ME/CFS Society of WA: Severity

Severity varies markedly from one individual to another and with it the number and intensity of symptoms and degree of disability experienced. The disease is also known to follow a fluctuating, relapsing and remitting course which means individuals may experience varying levels of symptom severity both over time and from day to day. The following guide may help when considering the level of severity experienced by any given individual:

• Mild: patient experiences some post-exertional malaise/fatigue and worsening of symptoms following normal physical or mental activities. They may experience other mild symptoms. Recovery requires increased rest but an individual is generally able to accommodate/manage their symptoms with only minor impact or limitation on quality of life or normal activities.

"Estimates suggest that up to 25% of people are so seriously affected that they are unable to perform most basic personal tasks."
-Independent Report to the UK Chief Medical Officer 2002

• Moderate: patient experiences significant post-exertional malaise/fatigue and worsening of symptoms following normal physical and mental activities. They may experience a variety of other symptoms, including sleep disturbance, cognitive/memory dysfunction, headaches/pain and persistent or fluctuating levels of malaise/fatigue causing moderate levels of functional incapacity. Recovery requires extensive rest and may only be partial. There is a significant impact and limitation on quality of life and ability to carry out normal daily activities.

• Severe: patient experiences severe post-exertional malaise/fatigue and worsening of symptoms following negligible or even trivial physical or mental activity. A wide range of severe and incapacitating symptoms include sleep disturbance, cognitive and memory dysfunction, headaches and muscular/joint pain and persistent or fluctuating levels of malaise/fatigue. Recovery remains only partial following even extensive rest. Patient is bed- or house-bound and unable to carry out normal daily activities with severe and devastating impact on quality of life.

The disease may on very rare occasions be fatal.