Historical perspectives, including chronic fatigue syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Fibromyalgia

ABSTRACT

The illnesses that most resemble long-COVID syndrome are Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) and fibromyalgia. This chapter describes the similar symptoms of these conditions to long-COVID syndrome. It discusses what is termed chronic Lyme disease, or post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome, as an example of an analogous, unexplained syndrome following an infection. CFS/ME are diagnostic labels used to describe a syndrome characterized by chronic fatigue, post-exertional malaise, muscle pain, and cognitive disturbances often attributed to a possible infection but without a defined cause or pathology. Fibromyalgia, like CFS/ME, has been around for centuries in various guises. Abnormalities of the central and autonomic nervous system are prominent in fibromyalgia and CFS/ME. CFS/ME and fibromyalgia are sometimes referred to as functional, somatic syndromes. Patients with CFS/ME and fibromyalgia often express frustration with medical professionals' approach to their illness. © 2023 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. All rights reserved.