Could chronic fatigue syndrome be a chronic disease resulting from complications of an infectious agent that hasn’t as yet been identified?
The CDC suggests that more than one million people in the United States are affected by chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), a debilitating disorder characterized by profound fatigue. The condition is greatly under diagnosed with less than 20% of those affected having been diagnosed.
The criteria for membership in the CFS “club” include severe chronic fatigue lasting at least six months in the absence of other known medical conditions, and 4 or more of the following 8 symptoms:
- short-term memory or concentration impairment
- sore throat;
- tender lymph nodes;
- muscle pain;
- multi-joint pain without swelling or redness;
- headaches of a new type, pattern or severity;
- unrefreshing sleep;
- post-exertional malaise lasting more than 24 hours.
CFS is more common in people in their 40s and 50s, and women are affected at 4 times the rate of men.
The cause of CFS is currently unknown. Could the condition be caused by an infectious agent, or damage to the immune system resulting from a previous infection? Do environmental factors contribute to the condition? Can lifestyle or behavioural changes reduce the incidence and severity of CFS? Many questions have yet to be answered. Please share your thoughts and opinions. Start a discussion.
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