Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Victims Feel Isolated: Study

Professor Marshall-Gradisnik, who heads up the National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, said research into illnesses such as chronic fatigue syndrome was critical.

Victims of chronic immunological and neurological conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia face constant pain and fatigue which goes on for years at times.

"There's no defined pathology of the illness which means that biomedical research is paramount because without finding out the actual mechanism of the illness, then it's very hard to then introduce a treatment," she said.

Victims also say that the illnesses are often misunderstood and even more difficult to diagnose. May 12 is International Awareness Day for Chronic Immunological and Neurological Diseases.

It is estimated that chronic fatigue syndrome, also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), afflicts over 200,000 Australians.

Bob Townsend, president of ACT ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Society, said victims could often feel isolated but for them a "normal" life is possible if they understand the problems and know when to stop from going overboard in order to prevent the problem from worsening.

Source: Medindia