What is Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome?

CFIDS stands for “chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome”. The largest advocacy group in the United States, The CFIDS Association of America, has used this name. Many people with CFS feel that the name “Chronic Fatigue Syndrome” severely trivializes the illness and is such a common symptom that it would lead to a broadening of the illness. This view led to the eventual merging of the phrase ”immune dysfunction” into the name, yielding the frequently utilized acronym, CFIDS.

The popularity of the term CFIDS may also be attributed to the fact that many cases of CFS are precipitated by a virus.