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).