Myalgic Encephalomyelitis or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), can affect anyone, at any age. Common symptoms include profound exhaustion; muscle pain and weakness (especially after even minor exercise); cognitive difficulties; hypersensitivity to sound, light and smell; severe headache; and digestive problems. Most adults with ME/CFS have to give up work, and a significant minority become housebound or even bedbound.

ME/CFS is frequently a lifelong problem: many sufferers will not return to full health. Most will make some degree of recovery and experience fluctuating periods of good and poor health. However, many remain badly affected, and some continue to deteriorate.

The cause of the condition remains unknown and there is no cure. More biomedical research is needed to understand the causes of ME/CFS and to find treatments for it.