General Information About Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
It is a state of profound exhaustion that prevents a person from performing even their daily life activities, does not go away with sleep or rest, and cannot be explained by any medical reason.
Normal fatigue happens when you work and goes away when you sleep. In Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, however, the patient is tired even when they wake up. A minor exertion (taking a shower, going to the grocery store) leaves the patient exhausted enough to be bedridden for days.
The exact cause is unknown. It is mostly thought to be a permanent malfunction/reaction of the immune and nervous systems following a severe viral infection (e.g., Epstein-Barr, Covid-19).
It is the most distinguishing feature of the disease. It is the sudden flaring up of symptoms (with flu-like muscle aches, hot flashes, and brain fog) 12-48 hours after a physical or mental activity.
There is no specific blood test; it is a 'diagnosis of exclusion'. After testing for and ruling out all organic diseases that can cause fatigue, such as thyroid issues, anemia, sleep apnea, or depression, the diagnosis is made based on the duration of the complaints.
It has no permanent cure; a management strategy is applied. Activity management (pacing), where the patient learns to spread their energy throughout the day, sleep regulators, cognitive behavioral therapy, and very mild/graded exercises to prevent muscle wasting are applied.
Our health library contents are prepared for informational purposes only and with scientific data available at the time of recording. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis, or treatment regarding your health, please consult your doctor or a healthcare institution.
