A brief, comprehensive measure of post-exertional malaise

Aim: Post-exertional malaise (PEM) has been a challenging construct to measure, particularly with self-report instruments, which have the benefits of being less expensive and less invasive than c

April 8, 2025: Educational event for GPs: "Key messages for Primary Care on the Diagnosis and Management of Post-Viral Fatigue Syndrome and ME/CFS"

What are fatigue and Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM)? – Long COVID Justice

Post-viral symptoms and conditions are more frequent in COVID-19 than influenza, but not more persistent - BMC Infectious Diseases

Background Post-viral symptoms have long been known in the medical community but have received more public attention during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many post-viral symptoms were reported as particularly frequent after SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, there is still a lack of evidence regarding the specificity, frequency and persistence of these symptoms in comparison to other viral infectious diseases such as influenza. Methods We investigated a large population-based cohort based on German routine healthcare data. We matched 573,791 individuals with a PCR-test confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection from the year 2020 to contemporary controls without SARS-CoV-2 infection and controls from the last influenza outbreak in 2018 and followed them up to 18 months. Results We found that post-viral symptoms as defined for COVID-19 by the WHO as well as tissue damage were more frequent among the COVID-19 cohort than the influenza or contemporary control cohort. The persistence of post-viral symptoms was similar between COVID-19 and influenza. Conclusion Post-viral symptoms following SARS-CoV-2 infection constitute a substantial disease burden as they are frequent and often persist for many months. As COVID-19 is becoming endemic, the disease must not be trivialized. Research should focus on the development of effective treatments for post-viral symptoms.

ME/CFS Onset: Comparing Risks After COVID-19 or Other Illnesses - Solve ME/CFS Initiative

A new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows that developing long-term ME/CFS-like symptoms is just as likely after being infected with other agents as it is after being infected with SARS-CoV-2. Furthermore, long-term symptoms after other acute infections are as severe as those after SARS-CoV-2 infection. The study illustrates why we must better manage symptoms for all patients with infection-associated chronic diseases and illuminates more ways Long Covid is like ME/CFS, the archetypal infection-associated chronic illness.

Building an NHS that truly supports people living with long COVID and ME: government action needed now

The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed our understanding of healthcare challenges, with long COVID emerging as a significant current and ongoing public health issue.1 For governments across the four UK nations, this presents both a challenge and an opportunity to build a National Health Service (NHS) that truly responds to the needs of all its patients, particularly, those with long COVID and myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME). A recent policy brief draws on the results of an online survey carried out in June–July 2024, which asked patients with long COVID and ME to evaluate parts of Labour’s mission plan for the NHS against their experiences of care.2 The report uses data from over 300 responses from patients and carers to identify the issues being faced. It also highlights challenges for the new Labour government in the UK to take clear steps to ensure the NHS provides for the needs of people living with long COVID and ME. While the brief focuses on the UK, there are lessons for governments across the world. The policy brief is part of #ThereForME, a patient-led and carer-led campaign, supported by 18 organisations and smaller initiatives, calling for an NHS that is there for people with long COVID and ME. In August the campaign shared the policy brief’s findings with the UK Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, through an open letter signed by over 2600 patients and …