Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Overview

Saturday September 22, 2007

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), sometimes called chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome (CFIDS), post-viral fatigue syndrome (PVFS), or myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), is a debilitating and complex disorder characterized by profound fatigue that is not improved by bed rest and that may be worsened by physical or mental activity. People with chronic fatigue syndrome most often function at a substantially lower level of activity than they were capable of before the onset of illness.

In addition to these key defining characteristics, patients report various nonspecific symptoms, including:

weakness
muscle pain
impaired memory and/or mental concentration
insomnia
post-exertional fatigue lasting more than 24 hours

In some cases, chronic fatigue syndrome can persist for years. To date, the cause of chronic fatigue syndrome has not been identified and no specific diagnostic tests are available. Because many illnesses have incapacitating fatigue as a symptom, care must be taken to exclude other conditions before a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome is made.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), chronic fatigue syndrome affects more than one million people in the United States. There are tens of millions of people with similar fatiguing conditions who do not fully meet the strict research definition of chronic fatigue syndrome.

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~ By Carol & Richard Eustice, About.com Guides to Arthritis / Osteoarthritis

_{Photo by Sheryl Griffen (iStockphoto)}