Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)

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• Introduction to chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)
• What is chronic fatigue syndrome?
• What medical conditions are similar to chronic fatigue syndrome?
• What conditions may cause similar symptoms?
• What are symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome?
• How common is chronic fatigue syndrome?
• What are risk factors for chronic fatigue syndrome?
• What are the defining characteristics of chronic fatigue syndrome?
• How is chronic fatigue syndrome diagnosed?
• What is the treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome?
• What is recovery like for chronic fatigue syndrome?
• What causes chronic fatigue syndrome?
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• Patient Discussions: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - Coping With the Symptoms

Living with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome One Patient's Story By Angela Generoso Staff Writer, MedicineNet.com Reviewed by William Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR At 21 years of age, Sarah Jones* felt like she was falling apart. Once an energetic cheerleader and member of a professional dance team, full of energy and life, Jones gradually found herself bedridden and unable to work. As time went on she became more confused as to why she was feeling constantly tired. Then one day a friend of hers, who was a nurse, asked if she had ever heard of chronic fatigue syndrome. "My doctor back then didn't believe in chronic fatigue syndrome," Jones says. "It was still up in the air; people didn't believe it existed. I think it's better now, but back then it wasn't." Jones found herself undergoing a series of tests, and when they were finished, she was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, a disease which inhibits people from performing everyday activities due to severe tiredness. Although the cause of chronic fatigue syndrome is still unknown, doctors can diagnose it by ruling out other possible causes of fatigue. *Name has been changed. Read on as Sarah changes her diet in an effort to cure her symptoms » Top Searched Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Terms: Epstein Barr, CFIDS, managing

Introduction

Chronic fatigue syndrome, or CFS, 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. Persons with CFS 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, and post-exertional fatigue lasting more than 24 hours. In some cases, CFS can persist for years. The cause or causes of CFS have not been identified and no specific diagnostic tests are available. Moreover, since many illnesses have incapacitating fatigue as a symptom, care must be taken to exclude other known and often treatable conditions before a diagnosis of CFS is made.

Definition of CFS

A great deal of debate has surrounded the issue of how best to define CFS. In an effort to resolve these issues, an international panel of CFS research experts convened in 1994 to draft a definition of CFS that would be useful both to researchers studying the illness and to clinicians diagnosing it. In essence, in order to receive a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome, a patient must satisfy two criteria:

1. Have severe chronic fatigue of six months or longer duration with other known medical conditions excluded by clinical diagnosis; and



2. Concurrently have four or more of the following symptoms: substantial impairment in short-term memory or concentration; sore throat; tender lymph nodes; muscle pain; multi-joint pain without swelling or redness; headaches of a new type, pattern or severity; unrefreshing sleep; and post-exertional malaise lasting more than 24 hours.

The symptoms must have persisted or recurred during six or more consecutive months of illness and must not have predated the fatigue.

For more detailed information regarding the definition of CFS, please go to our CFS Definition section.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - Coping With the Symptoms

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