| ic encephalomyelitis, commonly known as M.E., is | | | | and causes continuing symptoms. The majority of |
| an ongoing condition, resulting from a severe viral | | | | sufferers however, appear to have been left with |
| or other illness. Another name for this condition is | | | | the condition as a result of some other serious |
| post viral syndrome. It is not in itself infectious | | | | illness which has had a damaging effect on the |
| but occurs when the victim is left with a damaged | | | | immune system. |
| immune system, causing a range of debilitating | | | | In recent years, myalgic encephalomyelitis has |
| symptoms. They include, extreme tiredness, | | | | become such an increasing problem in Western |
| aching, muscle weakness and impairment of some | | | | countries that M.E. Societies have been formed to |
| mental processes. | | | | help people cope with the illness, and to encourage |
| Symptoms, such as these, are not uncommon | | | | medical research into its causes. |
| after viral infections, but rarely persist for more | | | | M.E. has not been reported in Third World |
| than a few weeks and then do not recur. | | | | countries. This probably indicates that the |
| However, when they do persist, or regularly recur | | | | breakdown in our natural resistance to disease, |
| for an abnormal period of time, perhaps for more | | | | caused by the chemicals in our over-refined |
| than a year, then an ongoing illness emerges | | | | Western diet, is making us very susceptible to |
| which is totally different to the original illness. In | | | | illness. Particularly to illnesses which leave the |
| addition to a range of chronic and persistent | | | | victim with a damaged immune system. Often, |
| symptoms, the victim also develops a masked | | | | the result is a multiple allergy condition with a wide |
| intolerance to many foods, chemicals and inhalants. | | | | range of symptoms, not commonly attributable to |
| Life becomes very unpleasant indeed. | | | | allergies. Due to the masked nature of the |
| Myalgic encephalomyelitis has been known by | | | | symptoms, the sufferer is left puzzled and |
| many other names over the past thirty years | | | | perplexed. |
| and has been reported in the British Medical | | | | According to Dr R. Loblay, who is senior lecturer |
| Journal under such names as Icelandic Disease, | | | | in immunology at Sydney University: 'The term |
| Royal Free Disease and Akuryeri Disease, prior to | | | | itself means an inflammatory condition of the |
| its present name being commonly adopted. In | | | | brain and spinal cord and in retrospect is an |
| America the same illness is known as | | | | unsatisfactory name for the condition. It was |
| neuromyasthenia. Like all illnesses involving multiple | | | | coined not long after the 1955 epidemic at the |
| masked allergies, the most important factor in | | | | Royal Free Hospital in London, at a time when |
| finding effective treatment is an awareness, by | | | | poliomyelitis was at its peak, and the outbreak |
| doctor and patient, that such illnesses exist, and | | | | was at first feared to be polio.' Dr Loblay goes on |
| are responsible for a wide range of chronic | | | | to say that extensive tests have never shown |
| symptoms. | | | | evidence of an inflammatory process in the brain |
| Evidently the illness has a history of localized | | | | or spinal cord. Invariably the blood count and ESR |
| epidemicity with outbreaks being reported in | | | | (indication of inflammation) are normal, which |
| institutional situations such as large hospitals, army | | | | indicates that some other type of pathological |
| barracks and schools, and thought to be due to | | | | process is going on which is non-inflammatory. |
| an unidentified virus which remains in the body | | | | |