Q. How is CFIDS diagnosed and treated?

A. There is no simple test for CFIDS although there are sophisticated tests that indicate immune system dysfunction in people with the syndrome. Research indicates that people with CFIDS demonstrate:

• Varying states of immune system activation
• Disturbance of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis
• Active replication of the Human Herpes Virus-6 (HHV-6); other viruses may be implicated as well.

There is presently no cure per se for CFIDS. It is a treatable disease, however, in that some treatments reduce symptoms and enable people to improve their level of functioning. Anti-viral and other drug trials are underway at several major medical centers and pharmaceutical companies throughout the country; as well as studies involving possible hormonal imbalances in the brain and endocrine glands of CFIDS patients.

You may obtain additional information from:

• CFIDS Foundation 965 Mission Street, Suite 425, San Francisco CA 94103
• CFIDS HOTLINE 415-882-9986 on-Thursdays 1-3pm FAX 415-882-9758
• CFIDS ASSOCIATION 704-362-2343 P.O. Box 220398 Charlotte NC 28222