Cases chronic fatigue syndrome

Although chronic fatigue syndrome is generally considered to be a recent illness, compounded by contemporary stresses particularly after a viral attack, this appears not to be the case. Edgar Jones and Simon Wesseley researched the medical literature and discovered a report of a condition resembling chronic fatigue syndrome. An extract from their paper follows. 

Edgar Jones Simon Wessely, Case of chronic fatigue syndrome after Crimean war and Indian mutiny , British Medical Journal (1999) 319, 1645-1647. 

In 31 cases of suspected chronic fatigue syndrome associated with hepatitis B immunization, no causal relation was determined (61). 

Warren G, McKendrick M, Peet M. The role of essential fatty acids in chronic fatigue syndrome a case-controlled study of red-cell membrane essential fatty acids (EFA) and aplacebo-controlled treatment study with high dose of EFA. Acta Neurol Scand 1999 99 112-116. 

Huibers MJH, Kant IJ, Swaen GMH, Kasl SV. Prevalence of chronic fatigue syndrome-like caseness in the working population Results from the Maastricht cohort study. Occup Environ Med 2004 61 464-6. 

Brachfeld J, Zavon MR Organic phosphate (Phosdrin) intoxication report of a case and the results of treatment with 2-PAM. Arch Environ Health 11 859-862,1965 Briggs NC, Levine PH A comparative review of systemic and neurological symptomatology in 12 outbreaks collectively described as chronic fatigue syndrome, epidemic neuromyasthenia, and myalgic encephalomyelitis. Clin Infect Dis 18 (suppl 1) S32-S42, 1994... 

In the recent case, a forty-seven-year-old woman was admitted to an Australian hospital in 1995 or early 1996. Much like Porritt, the patient suffered from general debility, headaches, confusion, weight loss, constipation, and had difficulty with abstract reasoning. Tests revealed a blood-lead level 9.75 times the level considered safe by Australian officials at the time. Further study revealed that the sole source of lead exposure in this case was lead-contaminated water. In particular, lead-based solder was used in the patient s hot water heater, and she was a heavy coffee drinker. Ten years prior to her admission to the hospital, the patient s symptoms had been attributed to chronic fatigue syndrome, and for ten years, that is what the patient and her physicians believed. In fact her symptoms had been caused by drinking lead-contaminated water. ... 

---