Thread by @Dr_M_Guthridge

1. thread: #coronavirus and #MECFS

We know that #MECFS can be triggered by a range of viral pathogens

So it is likely that #coronavirus could trigger a worldwide spike in ME/CFS in the next 6-18 months

@bmj_latest
bmj.com/content/333/75…

2. Post-infection #MECFS has been reported following infection from brucellosis, #EBV (mononucleosis), #LymeDisease, Q-fever, Ross River virus, viral meningitis, dengue fever and...

sciencedirect.com/science/articl…
bmj.com/content/333/75…

3. ...an increased risk of developing #MECFS has already been associated with a previous viral #pandemic

This study found that young/healthy people were just as likely as the elderly to develop #MyalgicE following in an #influenza pandemic

#coronavirus
sciencedirect.com/science/articl…

4. Who might be at risk of developing post-coronavirus #MECFS?

First-degree relatives of #pwME have a 2.7x increased risk of getting ME/CFS

Thus, first-degree relatives should be <super concerned> about catching #Coronavirus

bmcneurol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.11…

5. Combine the above risks with the findings from a @nature report that if you live with someone infected with the #coronavirus, you are ~6x more likely get infected than those who made contact with a #COVID19 infected person in other settings

nature.com/articles/d4158…

6. so if you are a healthy person with a first-degree relative with #MECFS, you may want to be extra vigilant with:

>hand-hygiene,
>social distancing
>avoiding large groups
>who you share a house with and whether they are asymptomatic and contagious

_____________

7. For those unlucky enough to develop post-coronavirus #MECFS, their lives will change forever

#pwME are:

25% are housebound
<7% recover
Quality of life is worse than #cancer
80% undiagnosed after 2yrs
Most will lose FTE
No treatments/cures

academic.oup.com/occmed/article…

8. We are past the point of #COVID19 containment

So the young and healthy:

i) could be victims of post-coronavirus #MECFS

ii) should not consider that #coronavirus only affects the old and sick

iii) have the most to lose from years/decades of post-coronavirus #MECFS