Tag: symptoms

Chronic fatigue syndrome–symptoms, signs, laboratory tests, and prognosis

Abstract:

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is an undefined clinical problem and is perceived as a complex of multiple symptomatology with an unexplained persistent fatigue. Major symptoms include fatigue lasting for more than 6 months, low-grade fever, moderate lymphadenopathy, muscle and joint pain, and various psychological presentations. Since no specific laboratory tests are available, clinical diagnosis demands that known causes of chronic fatigue should be excluded. The pathogenesis is at present unknown, but it is suspected that CFS is a physical and psychological condition associated with some unrecognized infectious agent. Further study is needed to clarify the precise pathophysiology of this newly recognized entity.

 

Source: Kanayama Y. Chronic fatigue syndrome–symptoms, signs, laboratory tests, and prognosis. Nihon Rinsho. 1992 Nov;50(11):2586-90. [Article in Japanese] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1287234

 

Myth of the chronic fatigue syndrome

THE CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME is a symptom complex characterized by fatigue, myalgias, arthralgias, neurologic symptoms-headaches, paresthesias, dizziness-lymph node swelling or tenderness, cognitive dysfunction, sleep disorders, and depression. The symptoms are similar to those seen in inflammatory illnesses and can be induced by the systemic administration of interferon beta. Severe fatigue is a perplexing and constant complaint in many patients with multiple sclerosis. This indicates that the perception of energy level has a sensitive physiologic basis that is dependent on the homeostasis of other body systems.

The chronic fatigue syndrome has gained popularity among the lay public and has stimulated considerable scientific debate about its existence. Many investigators and practitioners have attributed the disorder to chronic depression. Difficulty arises from the diverse symptoms associated with fatigue states; fatigue is a prominent feature of many systemic, neurologic, and psychiatric disorders. Also, fatigue is a subjective complaint without a quantifiable measure. This interweaving of many symptoms and diagnoses with disabling fatigue makes it difficult to compare patient groups. Terms applied to disorders that probably represent chronic fatigue syndrome are chronic infectious mononucleosis, myalgic encephalomyelitis, idiopathic chronic fatigue and myalgia syndrome, epidemic neuromyasthenia, postviral fatigue syndrome, and fibrositis-fibromyalgia.

You can read the rest of this article here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1002920/pdf/westjmed00095-0070a.pdf

 

Source: Murray RS. Myth of the chronic fatigue syndrome. West J Med. 1991 Jul;155(1):68. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1002920/