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Who does it affect?

Men, women and children of all ages, and of all social and ethnic backgrounds can develop M.E., although it is most common in women aged 25-50.

For example, research from 2007 showed children as young as two are affected, while in 2011 the Camberwell ME Support Group told us its members included 98 people who described themselves as white British and 48 others, including: Black African 4, Black Caribbean 5, Black French Caribbean, Indo Caribbean, Mixed black/white British, Anglo-Chinese British, Malaysian, Chinese Malaysian, British Asian 2, British Indian 2, Mixed race Asian English, white British Muslim, British Irish/Mauritian, white Argentinian, white European 5, white Scottish 2, white Irish, white Welsh, South American, Mixed European/Iraqi, white Scottish Irish, British Greek Cypriot 3, white Gerrman 2, English/Polish, British/French and French national.

Estimates vary but it is thought that around 250,000 people in the UK have the illness.

Here people with the illness share their experience:

Ocassionally celebrities are reported as having M.E.


Please get in touch if you'd like to share your story.

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