Normally when an infection activates your immune system, it rises up and you produce cytokines. These are natural chemicals involved in the fight against the initial infection. After an infection such as glandular fever 90% of people recover after a month. 9% recover after 6 months and the other 1% can remain chronically unwell for a long time. ME sufferers start to recover and if there is a major physical or emotional stress in their life, this stirs up the cytokines and symptoms recur. The illness often goes in a wave like pattern of recovering/flare-ups.

There is potential for everyone to recover eventually. Every person is different and his or her ME is individualized. It is often busy achieving people who get ME/CFS.

Diagnosis research is continually progressing, adding to our understanding of the underlying causes of the syndrome. Changes have been shown in the immune, neurological and endocrine systems and it is thought that a complex altered interaction occurring within these systems results in the illness. These is however no specific diagnostic test although throughout the world it is at least now accepted as a serious physical illness which may have a severe impact on the life of the sufferer. The additional burdens of further social, financial, and psychological problems can result. Diagnosis is made by a thorough history and examination, preferably by a doctor experienced in this kind of disorder. Other serious illnesses have to be ruled out, which may mean that the patient is subjected to multiple tests. It can be disappointing to be told all tests have returned normal, when a person feels and knows that they are really ill. However it is an important step in making the final diagnosis as many other medical conditions have similar symptoms, such as lupus, depression, diabeties, haemochromatosis, anaemia, multiple sclerosis, hormonal disorders, AIDS etc. The diagnosis cannot be made until the symptoms have persisted for a period of at least six months.

At this time there is no specific "curative" treatment for this illness. The current aim of treatment is to look at lifestyle changes and to relieve specific symptoms, thus enhancing a person's chance of making a recovery. Lifestyle changes include stress management, learning to 'pace' oneself, maintaining a balance between rest and gentle exercise, eating sensibly and attending to sleep difficulties.

Although there is no total cure known at present, research is providing promising results. 

A person with CFS may find it very difficult to live a normal functional life. They are adviced to pace themselves (slow down) and reduce both physically and psychologically stressful situations or they will find symptoms may worsen under pressure. Emotional or physical stress like being very busy, an operation, new baby, etc often trigger ME in 90% of people.

The degree of disability varies. Some ME sufferers can continue to perform almost normally at home and work but others find that work becomes too much to cope with and the sufferer needs to give up their job at that stage, as they need more rest to cope. There are degrees of this illness and the illness seems to go in cycles.