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Guidance
The NICE Guideline on ME/CFS: Diagnosis and Management [NG 206] Published 29 October 2021
- This guideline covers diagnosing and managing myalgic encephalomyelitis (or encephalopathy)/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) in children, young people and adults.
- It aims to improve awareness and understanding about ME/CFS and when to suspect it, so that people are diagnosed earlier. It includes recommendations on diagnosis, assessment and care planning, safeguarding, access to care and managing ME/CFS and its symptoms.
- These recommendations were developed based on evidence reviewed before the COVID-19 pandemic. We have not reviewed evidence on the effects of COVID-19, so it should not be assumed that these recommendations apply to people diagnosed with post-COVID-19 syndrome. NICE has produced a guideline on managing the long-term effects of COVID-19.
Recommendations
This guideline includes recommendations on:
- suspecting ME/CFS and diagnosis
- information and support, including advice when ME/CFS is suspected
- assessment and care and support planning
- safeguarding
- access to care and support
- managing ME/CFS
- symptom management
- flare-ups and relapse
- care for people with severe or very severe ME/CFS.
Who is it for?
- Health and social care professionals, including those working or providing input into educational and occupational health services
- Commissioners
- People with suspected or diagnosed ME/CFS, their families and carers and the public.
Guideline development process
How we develop NICE guidelines
- This guideline was commissioned by NICE and developed at the National Guideline Centre which is hosted by the Royal College of Physicians.
- This guideline updates and replaces NICE guideline CG53 (published August 2007).