Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Day 2025

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Day is observed on May 12, 2025. May 12 is designated as International Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Awareness Day (ME/CFS). The day is observed so that stakeholders have an occasion to improve the knowledge of "the public, policymakers, and healthcare professionals about the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of ME/CFS, as well as the need for a better understanding of this complex illness."

Chronic fatigue syndrome is the common name for a group of significantly debilitating medical conditions characterized by persistent fatigue and other specific symptoms that lasts for a minimum of six months in adults. The fatigue is not due to exertion, not significantly relieved by rest, and is not caused by other medical conditions. Symptoms of CFS include malaise after exertion; unrefreshing sleep, widespread muscle and joint pain, sore throat, headaches of a type not previously experienced, cognitive difficulties, chronic and severe mental and physical exhaustion, and other characteristic symptoms in a previously healthy and active person.

Although fatigue is a common symptom in many illnesses, CFS is comparatively rare. Estimates of prevalence vary from 7 to 3,000 cases of CFS for every 100,000 adults; national health organizations have estimated more than one million Americans and approximately a quarter of a million people in the UK have CFS. CFS occurs more often in women than men. The date for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Awareness Day was chosen to honor the birthday of Florence Nightingale, an English army nurse who was a pioneer of the Red Cross Movement. (With material from: Wikipedia)

More dates:

• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Day on May 12, 2026
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Day on May 12, 2027
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Day on May 12, 2028