Journal of IiME Volume 2 Issue 2 www.investinme.org Reasons why ME Does Not Belong to the MUS Category…and So Forth B Byy NNoorrwweeggiiaann MMEE AAss ssoocciiaatt iioonn 1. ME does not belong to the description of MUS The classic presentation of ME is as an illness with its own diagnosis and diagnostic code, and as such, ME does not fulfill the criteria of the MUS category as “not fitting any known diagnosis”. Contrast this with an invitation to a seminar in the Health Directorate 26. September 2008. Dr Wyller writes that the diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is not in the WHO ICD publication (2008:8). This is incorrect information which has been pointed out earlier. CFS is in the index with a reference to the diagnostic code G93.3. As CFS refers to the same diagnostic code as ME, this means that the condition must be classified under the same code and not under a psychiatric illness (e.g. neurasthenia (chronic fatigue - is not the same as ME/CFS) with code F48.0)(ICD10, printed edition from 1992). Many therefore refer to the description ME/CFS. See also KITH 2006. The illness and the illness presentation are not new, neither internationally or in Norway. According to infectious disease specialist and previously head of department at Ullevål University Hospital, Oddbjørn Brukbakk, the condition is described in classic, old medical literature in infectious diseases. The diagnosis myalgic encephalopathy/encephalomyelitis (ME)/Post-Viral fatigue syndrome does not belong to the umbrella term MUS for various reasons. This will be examined more closely below. 2. The WHO classification of ME/Post-Viral Fatigue Syndrome The World Health Organisation (WHO) was established in 1948. Before 1965 the condition debility and undue fatigue in the international classification system was placed under code Invest in ME (Charity Nr. 1114035) Invest in ME have translated this article which was kindly provided by the Norwegian ME Association www.me-forening.no 790.1. The condition was not referred to as ME before 1965. So the first time the WHO referred to ME was in 1965 ICD-8. This was first officially published in 1969 9ICD-8: Vol I code 323, page 158; Vol II (Code Index) page 173). ICD9 was approved in 1977, and ME was listed in the alphabetical index under code 323.9 in Volume II, page 182. The World Health Organisation (WHO) approved ME/Post-Viral Fatigue Syndrome as an illness in its own right in 1969 (Marshall, Williams and Hooper, 2001), and the illness was given the following code in the It cannot be in anyone’s interest (clinicians, researchers, patients, healthcare officials) for doctors to classify an illness based on their personal understanding as to where an illness belongs. international classification of diseases: ICD-10, 93.3 in the chapter of neurological disorders. According to the taxonomic system of the WHO’s international classification system, it is not allowed to classify an illness in more than one category. The Norwegian healthcare officials have endorsed the classification system, something which legally binds the Norwegian doctors and healthcare officials into following (continued on page 68) Page 67/74
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