Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Conditions & Diseases: Bones, Muscles & Joints

Introduction/Overview

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a complex debilitating disorder characterized by profound fatigue that may be worsened by physical or mental activity and with no improvement with bed rest. People suffering from CFS function at a substantially lower level of activity then their normal capacity before the onset of illness. In addition, the patient may also report various nonspecific symptoms such as weakness, muscle pain, impaired memory, insomnia and post exertional fatigue lasting for more than 24 hours (1).

An international panel of CFS research experts issued a draft definition of CFS in the year 1994. According to the definition, a patient must satisfy two criteria:

Have severe chronic fatigue of six months or longer duration with other known medical conditions excluded by clinical diagnosis.
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 (2).

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), about one to four million Americans suffer from CFS with about a quarter million unemployed and suffering from serious impairment. It is important to note that a person suffering from CFS is required to be treated early in order to resolve the illness. (3)

Article by Kona Vishnu, MS
Medical Writer,
OmniMedicalSearch.com