Definition
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a condition that causes long-term, extreme tiredness. The tiredness is not relieved by bed rest. This can lead to problems doing daily activities.
Causes
The cause of CFS is not known. It may be linked to an infection or problems with the immune, endocrine, or nervous system.
Risk Factors
CFS is more common in women than men. It tends to be seen in adults ages 30 to 40 years old. However, CFS can happen at any age. Other things that raise the risk are:
Symptoms
Symptoms vary from person to person. They may be:
- New and lasting tiredness that:
- Is not relieved with bed rest
- Often gets worse with physical or mental activity
- Cannot be explained by another health condition
- Unexplained pain for more than 6 months, such as:
- Muscle aches and headaches
- Joint pain
- Sore throat
- Tender lymph nodes
- Confusion, memory problems, and not being able to focus
- Irritability, anxiety, panic attacks, mood swings, or depression
- Problems sleeping
- Vision problems
- Lightheadedness, balance problems, or fainting
- Chills and night sweats
Diagnosis
The doctor will ask about your symptoms and health history. A physical exam may be done. There are no specific tests to diagnose CFS.
To diagnose CFS, the doctor must rule out other health conditions first. This may take a long time.
Treatment
There is no cure for CFS. The goal is to manage symptoms and improve wellbeing. Treatment options are:
- Moderate physical activity—monitored by a doctor or physical therapist
- Therapies such as:
- A well-balanced diet
- Counseling, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and stress management techniques
- Medicines, such as:
- Antidepressants and anti-anxiety medicines
- Pain medicines, such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen
- Stimulants—to help mental function
- Sedatives—to help with insomnia
RESOURCES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov
Solve ME/CFS Initiative http://solvecfs.org
CANADIAN RESOURCES
Health Canada https://www.canada.ca
The College of Family Physicians of Canada http://www.cfpc.ca
References
Bested A. Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: insights & advances in care. Altern Ther Health Med. 2018;24(S1):32-33.
Chronic fatigue syndrome. Family Doctor—American Academy of Family Physicians website. Available at: https://familydoctor.org/condition/chronic-fatigue-syndrome. Accessed February 26, 2021.
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/me-cfs. Accessed February 26, 2021.
Chronic fatigue syndrome. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/chronic-fatigue-syndrome Accessed February 26, 2021.
Revision Information
- Reviewer: EBSCO Medical Review Board Marcin Chwistek, MD
- Review Date: 01/2021
- Update Date: 02/26/2021