Could Coronavirus Cause A Future Spike In M.E/C.F.S Cases?

This blog is entirely hypothetical but it is a situation that is plausible.

M.E/C.F.S can be triggered by a virus.

The current COVID-19 outbreak is heading towards being a global pandemic and this got us wondering if this will cause a spike in newly diagnosed M.E/C.F.S patients within the next few years? Or at the very least, a spike in people with symptoms of M.E/C.F.S with or without a diagnosis.

At the current time in 2020, there is no scientific explanation as to why viruses trigger M.E/C.F.S in some people and not others (M.E/C.F.S affects 1:500 people).

A number of people take a longer period of time to recover from a viral infection, they may well continue to feel unwell for up to 6 months. This person will receive a diagnosis of Post-Viral Fatigue Syndrome from their doctor. However, if this continuation of sickness continues past 6 months a diagnosis of M.E/C.F.S should be considered. The criteria (there are a few different criteria) for M.E/C.F.S can be found HERE. There is no test for M.E/C.F.S.

The Open Medical Foundation predicts that 80-90% of patients worldwide have not received a diagnosis yet. Mainly due to the need for an improved knowledge-base within the medical profession.

There is no way to prevent getting M.E/C.F.S but our advice to anyone who has Coronavirus or any other virus is to rest and not try to push yourself to get better. If the virus has triggered M.E/C.F.S, resting will help to minimise the level of severity that you have. Resting could be the difference between having ‘mild’ M.E/C.F.S and being able to continue working part-time and being ‘severe’ and house or bed bound for years if not decades.

17-30 million people have M.E/C.F.S worldwide, we are hoping that COVID-19 doesn’t cause that estimated figure to rise even further.

M.E/C.F.S was already a global health crisis, here’s hoping this ‘hypothetical’ situation doesn’t become a reality.

 

1 thought on “Could Coronavirus Cause A Future Spike In M.E/C.F.S Cases?”

  1. I know this sounds awful but as a ME sufferer for 17 years if this is true and I think it will be then finally more research and money will be awarded to find a treatment or cure!

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