An international expert on the widely misunderstood condition, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), will be giving a number of talks in Ireland next month.

CFS, also known as ME (myalgic encephalomyelitis), is a very debilitating condition which affects around 12,000 people in Ireland. Those affected experience excessive tiredness even after adequate rest. This is made worse by physical or mental exertion. Other symptoms can include muscular aches and pains, frequent headaches, dizziness and impaired concentration.

Symptoms can fluctuate greatly from one day to the next, or even within a day.

While the cause is unclear, many people say their illness started after a viral infection.

Dr Charles Shephard is honorary medical advisor to the UK's ME Association. He has a personal interest in the condition, having developed it after catching chickenpox from one of his hospital patients.

He has over 30 years' expertise in this area.

Dr Shephard will be giving talks in Limerick, Galway and Dublin and he will be focusing on the issues of research, diagnosis and management of CFS.

Last month, he attended a conference of the International Association for CFS/ME in San Francisco and he will be sharing information he learned there.

The talks are taking place as part of ME Awareness Month, which runs throughout May. There will be a questions and answers session after each talk. Admission is €5.

The talks will take place on:
-May 9 at the Limerick Strand Hotel, Ennis Road in Limerick City at 12 noon
-May 10 at the Connacht Hotel, Dublin Road, Renmore in Galway at 2pm
-May 11 at the Carlton Hotel Dublin Airport, Old Airport Road, Cloghran, Co Dublin at 3pm.

For more information, contact the Irish ME/CFS Association on (01) 235 0965 or info@irishmecfs.org