‘Yuppie Flu’ Turns Out to Be Real : Health: Medical authorities are studying the disease--chronic fatigue syndrome--as more cases appear.

Chronic fatigue syndrome used to be dismissed as “yuppie flu,” but now the Centers for Disease Control recognizes it as a disease and is spending $1.5 million to study its frequency and impact.

CFS is a debilitating disease that strikes twice as many women as men, according to an article in the current issue of Good Housekeeping, particularly those between 25 and 45.

But Dr. Anthony Komaroff, chief of general medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, also treats men, children and senior citizens. Most cases of chronic fatigue start suddenly with a flulike illness, but then the unique symptoms of CFS set in and can last an average of 3 1/2 to 4 years.

Many people tend to get somewhat better after a year or so, but only 15% to 20% of CFS patients seem to fully recover and 5% remain homebound or bedridden.

CFS attracted media attention five years ago when it hit a Nevada community. At first, researchers thought this epidemic and other cases that sprouted up across the country were linked to Epstein-Barr virus, the main cause of infectious mononucleosis. But today, the virus’s role is still unclear.

Before 1988, when the CDC established guidelines to diagnose the disease, people who complained about their unrelenting fatigue were often thought to be hypochondriacs, hysterical, lazy or victims of their own over-achieving lifestyle.

For a while, CFS was called yuppie flu and was considered a trendy ailment that would vanish with a good dose of rest. But doctors kept seeing more and more patients with symptoms ranging from mild to severe.

The combination of symptoms that can mean CFS include persistent, overwhelming fatigue that does not go away with rest, low grade fever, sore throat and/or swollen lymph nodes and lingering fatigue after levels of exercise that would normally be easily tolerated.

Other symptoms include headaches, muscle weakness or pain, pain in joints, forgetfulness, irritability, confusion, inability to concentrate, depression, sensitivity to light, impaired vision and sleep disturbances.

CFS is not fatal or progressive, but there is evidence suggesting a genetic predisposition. Dr. James Jones, pediatric immunologist at the National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine in Colorado, said 70% to 80% of chronic fatigue patients have allergies.

Komaroff advises his patients to “pace themselves, avoid emotional or physical stress, get good sleep and decent nutrition,” as well as moderate exercise and psychological counseling.

For more information and references to support groups and doctors, contact:

National C.F.S. Assoc., 3521 Broadway, Suite 222, Kansas City, Mo. 64111; (816) 931-4777.

C.F. and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome Assoc., P.O. Box 220398, Charlotte, N.C. 28222-0398; (704) 362-CFID.

C.F. Immune Dysfunction Syndrome Society, P.O. Box 230108, Portland, Ore. 97223; (503) 684-5261.