|
SIMILAR ILLNESSES
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS, sometimes called Myalgic
Encephalomyelitis), Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS),
and Gulf War Syndrome or Gulf War Illnesses (GWS)
have rather nonspecific but similar complex, multi-organ signs and
symptoms that overlap or are almost identical. The major difference between these
illnesses appears to be in the severity of specific signs and symptoms.
INFECTIOUS NATURE
There is growing awareness that many chronic illnesses may have an
infectious nature that is either responsible (causative) for the illness, a cofactor for
the illness or appears as an opportunistic infection(s) that is responsible for
aggravating ones disease. There are several reasons for this awareness, including
the clustered appearance of an illness, often in immediate family members and close
friends or fellow workers, the course of the illness and its response to therapies based
on infectious agents.
TREATMENT OPTIONS LIMITED
Although these chronic fatigue illnesses have been known for several
years, most patients with CFS, FMS, GWS have had few treatment options.
 | This may have been due
to two reasons:
 | The imprecise nature of their diagnoses,
which are based primarily on clinical observations rather than laboratory tests
|
| A lack of understanding about the
underlying causes of these illnesses or the factors responsible for patient illness.
|
|
These illnesses could have different
initial causes or triggers but similar cofactors or similar opportunistic infections that
cause significant illness.
INFECTIOUS AGENTS CAUSE
SYMPTOMS
We at Shasta CFIDS have been particularly interested in the roles of
certain chronic infectious agents in CFS, FMS and GWS. These microorganisms can cause most
or essentially all of the signs and symptoms found in these patients.
MYCOPLASMA
One of the types of infections that caught our attention are
microorganisms called Mycoplasmas, small bacterial organisms, lacking cell walls, that are
capable of invading several types of human cells and are associated with a wide variety of
human diseases.
LABORATORY RESULTS
Three separate laboratories in the United States have identified
Mycoplasma organisms in patients with CFS, FMS and GWS. With percentage of positives
ranging from 60-80%.
By clicking on the buttons to the
right,
you can access more information about the role of Mycoplasma in CFS, FMS and GWS and learn
how to be tested and treated for Mycoplasma.
SHASTA CFIDS
Webmaster: Sharon Briggs
contact@mycoplasmasupport.org
Copyright © 2005
Shasta CFIDS
Last modified:
August 08, 2005
| 
