What's the Difference Between a Disease & a Syndrome?
Among the many confusing things you have to deal with when trying to learn about fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS or ME/CFS) is the difference between a disease and a syndrome.
When doctors who don't believe in FMS or ME/CFS are quoted in articles, they frequently lean heavily on the distinction. The word "syndrome" itself has been so misused in the popular media that it sounds a bit silly and overblown. But really, what's the difference?
The definition of syndrome is pretty straight forward:
- Syndrome: a collection of signs and symptoms known to frequently appear together but without a known cause.
Defining disease is a little more complicated. Many medical dictionaries define it as a disorder in a system or organ that effects the body's function. Some, however, add more requirements:
- Disease: a morbid entity characterized usually by at least two of these criteria:
- Recognized etiologic agent (cause)
- Identifiable group of signs and symptoms
- Consistent anatomic alterations
Here's why you find the important distinctions. We still don't have widely recognized causes for FMS and ME/CFS; signs and symptoms are too variable, and often point to numerous possible causes; and researchers have failed to find anatomic alterations that are consistent enough to stand up to scientific scrutiny.
It's important to remember, though, that while the term syndrome sometimes seems to belittle the illness, it's really just a classification based on what the medical establishment understands. When someone throws out that "it's just a syndrome" argument, they should take a close look at what they're really saying. Instead of it being an indication that an illness is somehow less valid than others, it's really more of an indictment of the medical community for not yet figuring it out.
Suggested Reading:
- Find a Support Group for Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Start a Support Group for Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Find Support, Understanding & Friendship in About.com's Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome forum
Comments
Adrienne – very good topic! I’ve been sick long enough to figure these out, but I bet this helps a lot of newcomers. These differences are so important to figuring out how to communicate with others & defend yourself.
I’ve heard that a syndrome (collection of symptoms) is the calm before the storm. It’s what one has before a disease manifests itself to the point of it being recognized by whatever name medicine has given it. In other words, you can have fibro, but if down the road they discover you have lupus, rheumatiod arthritis, etc., then the fibro dx is dropped. Are they still doing this?
VaBreeze,
I think that’s what they used to do, and they still might with some things that are precursors to other conditions (i.e., I’ve been told I have a pre-diabetic syndrome, which would obviously be dropped if I developed diabetes.) Fibromyalgia is well-defined enough now, though, to be its own diagnosis along with lupus, RA, etc. because no other condition covers the full range of symptoms we get to enjoy.
I just posted an appreciation under the wrong article — CFS syndrome vs disease — though the topics are related.
I find your clarification of disease vs. syndrome very helpful and well stated. It helps to keep me afloat in the waves of obscuring bias and ignorant arguments about fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue that take advantage of their self-generated cloud of complexity to discount the need for research and compassionate care. It transfers the burden of defined etiology and treatments upon the sufferer, instead of the medical provider and researchers. You have deftly shifted that back to where it belongs. I feel a psychological sense of relief. Thanks!