Rebora, A, Drago, F · Dermatology (Basel, Switzerland) · 1994 · DOI
This study describes skin problems that appear in some ME/CFS patients, occurring in about 10-35% of cases. Researchers found that patients sometimes develop mouth sores or skin rashes, possibly related to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. The study emphasizes that ME/CFS is diagnosed when someone has severe, disabling fatigue lasting at least 6 months with no other medical condition explaining it.
This early study helped establish that skin manifestations are a legitimate part of the ME/CFS disease spectrum, potentially linking cutaneous findings to viral triggers like EBV. Recognizing these manifestations may help patients receive more comprehensive care and validates symptoms beyond fatigue that were previously underappreciated in clinical practice.
This study does not prove that EBV causes ME/CFS, only that it may be associated with some cases. It also does not establish whether skin lesions are caused by the virus directly, are secondary immune responses, or are coincidental findings. The wide range reported for skin involvement (10-35%) suggests the actual prevalence remains unclear.
About the PEM badge: “PEM required” means post-exertional malaise was an explicit required diagnostic criterion for participant inclusion in this study — not that PEM was studied, observed, or discussed. Studies using criteria that do not require PEM (e.g. Fukuda, Oxford) are tagged “PEM not required”. How the atlas works →
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