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​Understanding Criteria
Different Narratives for ME and CFS

(updated 02/13/21)

Join ME International
#MEICPrimer Download
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Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) Criteria

ME-ICC: International Consensus [research] Criteria - 2011 Link
en EspaƱol
in het Nederlands
ME-Hyde: Dr. Byron Hyde - enteroviruses - 2007/updated 2016 Link

ME/CFS-CCC: Canadian Consensus [clinical] Criteria (CCC)- 2003 Link

ME-Ramsay: Ramsay case description - 1981 Link

Audio file of Dr. Ramsay explaining his findings (1988)
(Link on the Royal Free 1955 Twitter account - @RFH1955)

GETTING AN ME DIAGNOSIS USING THE ICC
The ME-ICC questionnaire from www.MEadvocacy.org/resources is a useful tool to understand if ME is a reasonable diagnosis to consider. Circling the symptoms and presenting this to your doctor (and family/friends) can help simplify the challenge of explaining the breadth/depth of ME.
"Do I fit the ICC?":  English   
en Español


The next step is to confirm the ME diagnosis.  The IC Primer guides doctors to diagnose, treat and rule out other diseases. 
The ICC alone is not enough to confirm an ME diagnosis.


ME (G93.3 as of 5/24/20) and CFS (R53.82 as of 5/24/20) are two separate ICD diagnosis codes.  Combining two different patient groups under one label (ME/CFS) leads to inadequate treatments for #pwME. 
These need to be kept separate.


GERMANY uses the CFS label with the G93.3 code.
DEUTSCHLAND verwendet das CFS-Label mit dem Code G93.3.
G93.3  Chronisches Müdigkeitssyndrom [Chronic fatigue syndrome]
Inkl.: Chronisches Müdigkeitssyndrom bei Immundysfunktion
Myalgische Enzephalomyelitis
Postvirales Müdigkeitssyndrom


HERE's a good (PDF) explanation from Suzy Chapman,
Dx Revision Watch about the ICD coding of PVFS, ME and CFS
as of November 2019. (6/19/20)
Review of case definitions for ME/CFS
Lim and Son (Republic of Korea)
This paper gives a good history of the 25 case definitions/diagnostic criteria created since 1986, based on three conceptual factors (etiology, pathophysiology, and exclusionary disorders). ~ MEI
"...ME/CFS has been named differently (e.g., postviral fatigue syndrome, neurasthenia) depending on the perspectives of the researchers; likewise, diagnostic criteria or case definitions have also been changed accordingly."  Conclusions:  "In this review, we found three key factors that have affected ME/CFS case definitions: etiology, pathophysiology, and exclusionary disorders. These factors have impacted the specification of the main symptoms, required conditions, and range of inclusive and exclusive symptoms/disorders in the development of case definitions." - 29 July 20

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and Other Criteria


Due to decades of misinformation about diagnosing ME, we suggest everyone diagnosed with ME, CFS, ​ME/CFS-CCC, or systemic exertion intolerance disease (SEID) (and similar diseases) research which criteria most closely matches their experience.


ME/CFS-SEID: Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease -
Beyond ME/CFS IOM Report - 2015 Link


CFS-Reeves: Empirical - 2005 Link
   

CFS-Fukuda: Fukuda - 1994 Link

CFS-Oxford: UK criteria - 1991 Link

CFS-Holmes: Original CFS description - 1988 Link


Understanding ME/CFS-SEID


Download a chart showing a
COMPARISON BETWEEN ME-ICC & ME/CFS-SEID (IOM)


For background on ME/CFS-SEID, see MEadvocacy.org blog "Analysis of CFSAC August 2015 Recommendations for the IOM Criteria"
Note:  CDC
did not act on CFSAC recommendations.
"Curtain dropped" on CFSAC Sept. 2018.



MEadvocacy.org resources page contains handouts and more information.

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​The information provided at this site is not intended to diagnose or treat any illness and is not to be considered as medical advice.
ME International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and is listed as a nonprofit corporation with the state of Colorado.

copyright 2019-2021 ME International
EIN 84-3568066


  • Home
    • Current Newsletter
    • Members in the News
    • Archived Newsletters
    • Videos / Music
    • Board of Directors >
      • Annual Report 2020
  • Criteria
    • Understanding Criteria
    • Severe ME
    • FAQs about ME
    • The History of ME
  • Medical/Research
    • Primer/Info Sheets >
      • Emergency Room Info for ME Patients
    • Patient Resources >
      • Do I Have ME?
      • Pain
      • PENE
      • Sleep Problems
      • Disability
      • Coping with Symptoms while waiting for a Cure
    • Exercise Dangers
    • Medical Specialties
    • Published ME-ICC Studies
    • Possible Biomarkers
  • Orgs
    • International ME-ICC Orgs
    • Australian ME-ICC Orgs
    • Canadian ME-ICC Orgs
    • E.U. ME-ICC Orgs
    • German ME-ICC Orgs
    • Irish ME-ICC Orgs
    • Japanese ME-ICC Orgs
    • Norwegian ME-ICC Orgs
    • Portuguese ME-ICC Orgs
    • South African ME-ICC Orgs
    • UK ME-ICC Orgs
    • US ME-ICC Orgs
  • Connect
    • Membership Application
    • Committees
    • Contact
  • Blog List
  • Donate
    • Pulse Oximeter Fundraiser