ME/CFS Society of WA: Causes

ME/CFS is classified as a neurological disease by the World Health Organisation in the current International Classification of Disease (WHO ICD 10 G93.3) although its causes are not yet fully understood.

The US CDC estimates there are now more than 3,000 studies of people affected by the disease that provide evidence of physical abnormalities or dysfunction in a wide range of body systems/organs including the immune, endocrine, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal and central nervous systems, including the brain.

The underlying cause(s) of the disease are increasingly thought to be multifactorial including genetic, environmental (toxins, etc.) and pathogens (viruses/bacteria, etc.). Interaction between these factors is thought to add significantly to the complexity and persistence of the disease. Research has identified the strong likelihood of a genetic predisposition to ME/CFS in a significant proportion of cases.

The disease is known to develop following acute ‘triggering events’ such as a ‘flu-like’ illness or specific infections such as Glandular Fever, Ross River Virus and Q fever. Other ‘triggering events’ may include exposure to environmental pollutants/toxins (heavy metals, organophosphates and other pesticides, etc), physical trauma, immunization and even anaesthetics. However, for many there is no obvious ‘triggering event’ and they may experience a more gradual onset.