Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)

Description

A persistent incapacitating weakness or fatigue, accompanied by nonspecific somatic symptoms, lasting at least 6 months, and not attributable to any known cause. While the cause of CFS is unknown, one theory suggests that it may develop when a person's immune system reacts abnormally to a viral infection. Other factors such as age, prior illness, stress, environment, or genetics may also play a role. CFS most commonly occurs in women ages 30 to 50.

Symptoms

Fatigue lasting more than 24 hours after an amount of exercise that would normally be easily tolerated, mild fever (101 degrees F or less), sore throat, lymph node tenderness in the neck or armpit, muscle weakness, muscle aches (myalgias), feeling unrefreshed after sleeping an adequate amount of time, headaches, joint pain, often moving from joint to joint (migratory arthralgias), forgetfulness, confusion, irritability.

Tests

Common tests used for diagnosis and treatment

Workup:
A history and physical exam will be performed. The work-up involves ruling out other causes of the fatigue and symptoms including infections, autoimmune conditions, tumors, endocrine diseases, drug dependence, or psychiatric illness.

Tests:
Complete blood count (CBC), Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), CT Scan, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Urinalysis (UA), X-ray

Other Specific Tests: Autoimmune blood tests

Specialists:
Internal Medicine, Rheumatology, Family Practice

Treatment

Therapy depends on the extent of disease and the severity of the symptoms. Treatment includes: medications to treat depression, anxiety and pain.