Chronic fatigue syndrome is a common chronic pain disorder that causes severe fatigue that does not improve with rest. Chronic fatigue syndrome tends to get worse after exercise or mental activity. Severe or inadequately treated chronic fatigue syndrome can be disabling in some cases and result in difficulty or inability to participate in the activities of daily living, such as work, school, and home life.
It is not known exactly what causes chronic fatigue syndrome. One theory is that it develops out of a combination of factors, such as viral infection, stress, and exposure to toxins. Chronic fatigue syndrome can run in families, so genetic factors may increase the risk of developing the disorder. Chronic fatigue syndrome is most common in women, but can occur in both sexes and in all age groups and ethnic populations. Most cases of chronic fatigue syndrome occur during middle age.
Chronic fatigue syndrome can be difficult to diagnose because there is no specific test to detect it. Diagnosing chronic fatigue syndrome requires running many tests to rule-out other diseases and disorders that have similar symptoms. Making a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome includes performing a complete evaluation that includes a medical history, including symptoms, and physical examination. This includes a neurological examination. A neurological exam evaluates the brain and nerves and such functions as level of consciousness, reflexes, sensation, movement, balance, coordination, vision, and hearing. A mental health exam is also done.
Symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome include severe fatigue and other symptoms that can be similar to some viral infections. For more information on symptoms, refer to symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome.
It is possible that a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome can be missed or delayed because symptoms can be similar to symptoms of other conditions and diseases, such as depression, rheumatoid arthritis, and migraine. For more information on diseases and conditions that can mimic chronic fatigue syndrome, refer to misdiagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome.
There is no cure for chronic fatigue syndrome, and it can be difficult to treat. However, chronic fatigue syndrome is treatable in many cases with regular medical care, monitoring of the disorder, and an individualized treatment plan. Treatment plans may need to be readjusted over time to be most effective. Treatment can include medications, specialized exercise programs, and other therapies. For more information on treatment, refer to treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome. ...more »
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a syndrome that has only recently been described by the medical profession. Once controversial, it is gradually becoming accepted as a valid diagnosis by medical professionals. Typically CFS follows a viral infection (e.g. cold or viral stomach bug), and is sometimes found after mononucleosis infections. Non-specific symptoms of fatigue, tiredness, exhaustion, and aches make CFS difficult to diagnose and similar to other conditions such as lupus, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia and Lyme disease (among others). CFS and fibromyalgia share many common characteristics, and may be misdiagnosed as each other, and either condition is often misdiagnosed as depression. ...more »
People who have chronic fatigue syndrome can experience a wide variety of symptoms, and the types and severity of symptoms can vary between individuals. Not all people will have all symptoms, and all symptoms may not occur together at the same time. Symptoms can also come and go.
Chronic fatigue syndrome is marked by severe fatigue that does not improve with rest. Chronic ...more symptoms »
The most effective treatment plan for chronic fatigue syndrome uses a multifaceted approach. Treatment plans are also individualized to best address the severity of chronic fatigue syndrome, the types of symptoms, a patient's age, lifestyle, medical history and other factors. Prompt diagnosis and treatment increases the chances of better symptom management.
A diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome may be overlooked or delayed because it can is difficult to make a diagnosis. In addition, symptoms, such as joint pain, fatigue, headaches, sore throat, and tender lymph nodes can mimic symptoms of many other diseases and conditions. These include influenza, rheumatoid arthritis, migraine, hypothyroidism, depression, upper ...more misdiagnosis »
See full list of 54 symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
See full list of 12 treatments for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
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Read more about Misdiagnosis and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
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We all get tired. Many of us at times have felt depressed. But the mystery known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is not like the normal ups and downs we experience in everyday life. The early sign of this illness is a strong and noticeable fatigue that comes on suddenly and often comes and goes or never stops. You feel too tired to do normal activities or are easily exhausted with no apparent reason. Unlike the mind fog of a serious hangover, to which researchers have compared CFS, the profound weakness of CFS does not go away with a few good nights of sleep. Instead, it slyly steals your energy and vigor over months and sometimes years. (Source: excerpt from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID)
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, or CFS, is characterized by persistent and debilitating fatigue and additional nonspecific symptoms such as sore throat, headache, tender muscles, joint pain, difficulty thinking and loss of short-term memory. Initial symptoms mimic the flu: on physical examination, patients may have nonspecific findings such as low-grade fever and redness of the throat, but frequently no abnormalities are found. No laboratory test or panel of tests is available to diagnose CFS so the diagnosis is made solely on clinical grounds. The cause of CFS is unknown. (Source: excerpt from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: NWHIC)
Characterized by physical symptoms and demonstrable structural or physiological changes in which emotional factors are believed to play a major etiologic role. - (Source - Diseases Database)
Nervous breakdown (not in technical use) - (Source - WordNet 2.1)
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is listed as a "rare disease" by the Office of
Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health
(NIH). This means that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, or a subtype of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome,
affects less than 200,000 people in the US population.
Source - National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Ophanet, a consortium of European partners,
currently defines a condition rare when it affects 1 person per 2,000.
They list Chronic Fatigue Syndrome as a "rare disease".
Source - Orphanet
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