Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
Adults and Children
General points
- CFS/ME is a relatively common condition. It is estimated that there are over 250,000 people in England and Wales with ME/CFS, with about 2.4 times as many women affected as men.
- It comprises a wide range of symptoms including fatigue, malaise, headaches, sleep disturbances, difficulties with concentration and muscle pain
- It is characterised by debilitating fatigue that is unlike everyday fatigue and can be triggered by minimal activity and often follows a relapsing and remitting course
- Diagnosis is clinical with exclusion of a wide differential diagnosis
- Mildly affected patients might be managed in primary care – a close doctor-patient relationship is key
- Those moderately to severely affected need specialist input
- Management is multi-disciplinary
The service
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Adult and Children’s Specialist Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Service
Inclusion criteria for referral
Consider referral if all the following criteria are met:
- Patient registered with a GP in Cornwall & IOS area
- Age > 16y can be referred direct to service
- Age < 16y must be referred to Paediatrician first
- All 4 major criteria*are present (see box below) and have persisted for a minimum of 6wks in adults (> 16y) OR 4wks in children (< 16y) OR re-occurrence of life-altering symptoms in previously known and diagnosed patient
- The person’s ability to engage in occupational, social or personal activities is significantly reduced from pre-illness levels
- History, examination and investigations don't suggest an alternative differential diagnosis
If missing significant amounts of time off work/school, consider early referral, documenting this in your referral letter.
Exclusion criteria
Please note the service do not accept referrals for:
- Patients aged < 16y must be under the care of a Paediatrician
- Benefits applications - refer to DIAL@disabilitycornwall.org.uk or 01736 79500
- Equipment only – consider patient self-referral to 0300 1234131
- Chronic widespread pain in absence of fatigue or other symptoms
- The service is currently not commissioned to see patients with fibromyalgic pain only OR fatigue associated with other medical conditions, e.g. MS/cancer
Be aware that the following symptoms may be associated with, but are not exclusive to, ME/CFS:
- Orthostatic intolerance and autonomic dysfunction - dizziness, palpitations, fainting, nausea, on standing or sitting upright from a reclining position
- Temperature hypersensitivity - profuse sweating, chills, hot flushes, or feeling very cold
- Neuromuscular symptoms - twitching and myoclonic jerks
- Flu-like symptoms - sore throat, tender glands, nausea, chills or muscle aches
- Intolerance to alcohol, or to certain foods and chemicals
- Heightened sensory sensitivities - to light, sound, touch, taste and smell
- Pain - pain on touch, myalgia, headaches, eye pain, abdominal pain or joint pain without acute redness, swelling or effusion
Primary care work-up prior to referral
Investigations (within 3m of referral)
Do
- Urinalysis
- FBC PV CRP HBA1C LFT U&E BONE TFT CK
- Coeliac testing
- Ferritin (if age < 25)
Don’t routinely check (unless clinically indicated)
- Ferritin (in adults)
- Vitamin B12, Folate
- Vitamin D
- 9am cortisol
- HBV HCV HIV EBV CMV
- TB
- Lyme disease
- Toxoplasmosis
Management
Advise patients:
- Not to use more energy than they perceive they have - they should manage their daily activity and not ‘push through’ their symptoms
- To avoid taking daytime naps
- To rest and convalesce as needed. In mild CFS/ME the emphasis is on encouraging continuation of regular work/school, but this might mean making changes to their daily routine including work, school and other activities
- To maintain a healthy balanced diet, with adequate fluid intake
Consider prescribing:
- Analgesia and anti-sickness as required
Specialist services available
- Diagnostic opinion if diagnosis uncertain or complex co-morbidities
- Medical assessment and medication management
- Occupational and education liaison
- Evidence based therapeutic interventions, e.g. graded activity management and/or thought reframing strategies, with approaches to managing activity, lifestyles, roles and responsibilities
- Sleep, vestibular, anxiety, cognitive, pain, diet and fatigue management strategies, as well as specific neurological and sensory integration-based rehabilitation
- Psychological interventions for coping, adjusting and overcoming barriers to accessing treatment strategies
- Virtual one-to-one and group work, local face-to-face clinics and some domiciliary therapy appointments as clinically indicated.
References
Myalgic encephalomyelitis (or encephalopathy)/chronic fatigue syndrome: diagnosis and management. NICE clinical guidelines (NG206). October 2021.
Current team
Specialty Medic: Dr Tamsyn Richards
Psychologist: Dr Cristina Lopez Chertudi
Specialist OTs: Sophie Bellman, Tamsin Stickland
Specialist Nurse: Sarah Dowrick
Review Date 17th December 2021
Next Review Date 17th December 2022
GP Sifter Dr Laura Vines
Contributor Mel Terry
Version 5.0