A condition of severe weakness called Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), prevalent in the UK Asian community, affects atleast 2.6 per cent of the country’s population and incurs heavy financial burden on UK economy and patient families. New research showcased at the British Science Festival has quantified these monetary losses to be over 102 million sterling, much more than the amount spent on treatment and research.
Children suffering form CFS are severely affected, making them unfit for regular schooling and in need of full-time care. According to the study, their families experience a monthly loss of around £247 in income and spend £206 more than usual.
“In almost all the families we looked at [either of the parents] have had to reduce or give up work and at the same time they were increasing expenditure on their children buying beds, special diets, entertainment and other child care,” said Dr Esther Crawley of University of Bristol, paediatrician and lead author of the study.
Early detection and treatment is the best way to neutralise personal and economic problems brought on by CFS. “We found that on average families suffer for 3 years and then seek medical services only 18 months after quitting their jobs,” she said. Given the nature of the symptoms, diagnoses is not easy; in the UK only 40 per cent of the GPs are confident about diagnosing it in its early stages.
Scientists insists on better training for GPs to recognise CFS as a severe medical condition as they are the first entry point to specialised treatment.
The data came form families of patients that are actively involved in treatthe ment.