MANILA, Philippines -- Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago has filed a bill aimed at raising public awareness on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).

Santiago, who has been suffering from CFS since late 2008, said the Department of Health (DoH) should research on the disease and determine how many people were suffering from it

“It appears that CFS has slipped under the DoH’s radar, despite the fact that more and more Filipinos are being afflicted by it,” she said in a statement.

Santiago cited the case of Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile’s wife, Cristina, who had to resign from her post as ambassador to the Vatican due to CFS.

The DoH and the Philippine Information Agency should carry out a national campaign to increase public awareness and knowledge of CFS, she said.

Santiago said CFS is a complex illness that causes extreme fatigue over a prolonged period and affects the immune, nervous system, muscular, and endocrine systems.

The major symptoms of CFS, according to the Senator are: extreme tiredness lasting at least six months, impairment of short-term memory or concentration, sore throat, tender lymph nodes, muscle and joint pain without swelling or redness, difficulty sleeping, headaches, and prolonged muscle fatigue and feeling ill after even mild exertion.

Santiago said people with CFA could also experience abdominal pain, earaches, intolerance to alcohol, chest pain, coughing, dizziness, nausea, irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, bloating, dry eyes and mouth, jaw pain, joint stiffness in the morning, night sweats, depression, and weight loss.

Since the disease carries varying symptoms, CFS is often unrecognized or misdiagnosed, she said.

Santiago said the condition was more prevalent among women aged 25 to 45 but it could affect children and adults of any age and people from all ethnic groups.