New research into the cause of school absence finds that up to one percent of secondary school pupils could be suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome. The study, led by academics at the University of Bristol is published in the BMJOpen.

The findings show that chronic fatigue is an important cause of unexplained absense from school with fewer than one in five pupils with CFS/ME receiving a diagnosis or offered treatment. The study also found that children diagnosed at school are less severely affected than those referred to specialist services, and appear to make rapid progress when they are offered treatment.

Dr Esther Crawley, lead author and advisor to the Sussex & Kent ME/CFS Society, said: "These findings reveal the scale of how many children are affected by disabling chronic fatigue syndrome that prevents them attending school, and how few are diagnosed and offered help."

Research published in the British Journal of Radiology on November 29th has shown that significant changes in the brain could occur in those affected by ME/CFS causing symptoms such as impaired memory and visual processing problems. The research team headed by Professor Basant Puri at the Department of imaging, Hammersmith Hospital, London has conducted the largest MRI brain scan study of it's type to establish whether Myalgic Encephalopathy (ME) or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is associated with structural brain changes. ME patients and matched healthy volunteers were tested and results showed that those with ME had reduced grey and white matter volume in areas of the brain indicating changes that are consistent with the complaint of impaired memory that is common in the illness. The findings also suggest that abnormalities in visual processing, and discrepancies between intended actions and consequent movements, may occur in ME.

A specialist ME doctor and research team leader who gave a talk at Hove Town Hall recently has had a study published today (15/9) that shows that Myalgic Encephalopathy or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome could be costing over £102 million a year to the UK economy in lost earnings.

Dr Esther Crawley who is a medical advisor to the Sussex & Kent ME/CFS Society, and a team of academics at Bristol university's School of Social and Community Medicine has carried out one of the first investigations into factors associated with discontinuation of employment in patients with ME/CFS and the research is published in the journal BMC Health Services Research.

Part funded by the charity Action for ME that also took part in the Hove meeting, the study examined data from 2,170 patients attending five specialist ME/CFS services to estimate earnings lost as a consequence of ME/CFS and the overall productivity costs to the UK economy.

Many ME/CFS sufferers try to continue work despite the symptoms of the condition. Loss of physical capacity is the main reason for discontinuation of employment.

Dr Crawley, lead author and Consultant Senior Lecturer said: "Our findings are important because they show the long-term cost to society, which must be accounted for in estimates of the cost-effectiveness of ME or CFS interventions and service provision."

"In addition to this indirect cost to the UK economy, health resource use and welfare payments impose direct costs, and families must bear the costs of informal care, often reducing their own working hours. In young adults, disruption of education reduces productivity in later years. Above and beyond these financial costs, ME or CFS has a huge impact on quality of life."

Colin Barton, Chair of the Sussex & Kent ME/CFS society, added: "There is an urgent need for more adequate NHS provision for those affected by this often life-ruining illness that is costing so much."

ME affects an estimated 12,000 adults and children across Kent and Sussex many of whom are housebound and in need of care.

Nearly 90 people joined consultant physician and researcher Dr Esther Crawley and Action for ME's Sir Peter Spencer on September 9th for our medical meeting at Hove Town Hall.

The Sussex & Kent ME/CFS Society's chairman Colin Barton said, "Mary-Jane Willows, Chief Executive of AYME did a brilliant job of chairing the event that was opened by our patron Simon Kirby MP.

 "Action for ME's CEO, Sir Peter Spencer, talked passionately about the difficulties still faced by many with the illness and there was a report from the NHS Sussex CFS/ME Service, as well as Kate Love of the Federation of Disabled People answering benefit queries. There was a long discussion session at the end when Peter, Esther and Mary-Jane answered questions from the floor.

 "Dr Esther Crawley's presentation, 'Research in CFS/ME - The way forward' was greeted with enthusiasm. Esther is a leading light in the research field of ME/CFS and we are fortunate to have her as a medical advisor to our organisation.