Benign Myalgic Encephalomyelitis has been classified by the World Health Organisations in its International Classification of Disease (currently WHO ICD 10 G93.3) as a neurological disease since 1969. The meaning of this name is:
- Benign -mild or non-progressive
- Myalgic -muscular pain
- Encephalo -of the brain
- Myel -of the spinal cord
- Itis -inflammation
This name was introduced in the 1950's reflecting key characteristics of the disease including observations of inflammation in the spinal cord of those affected. With a better understanding of the potentially severe disability the disease may cause the term 'Benign' is now rarely if ever used.
Since the late 1980's some sections of the medical community have strongly resisted use of the term 'ME' in part because they maintain evidence of spinal cord inflammation has not been observed consistently.
The US CDC created the term and concept of CFS in the 1980's along with its associated description (case definition). The medical profession has since preferred use of this term as it infers no specific understanding of disease process or cause.
Those affected by the disease and a growing number of health professionals assert that by focussing on a single, vague and ubiquitous symptom such as 'chronic fatigue' the term CFS misrepresents and trivialises the true nature and severity of the disease. They also maintain that by omitting hallmark symptoms and failing to accurately describe the disease the term CFS and its associated descriptions (case definitions) only serve to confuse understanding.
See Brief History for a better understanding of how use of these vague CFS descriptions (case definitions) as patient selection criteria in research studies has caused considerable confusion and contributed to misunderstanding surrounding the disease.