by V. Kumar

Created on: August 08, 2008   Last Updated: September 15, 2008

CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME is a condition whose causes are still not fully understood. It can result from various causes that may have little similarity with each other, yet the symptoms that are observed may be similar.

CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME : AN OVERVIEW

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a condition of persistent debilitating fatigue that produces severe distress apart from interfering with working as well as daily activities. It is not a single disease, but a condition of fatigue and generalised debility that is diagnosed as chronic fatigue syndrome depending upon the satisfaction of certain criteria.

By definition, it should have persisted or recurred a few times over a period of six months, it should not be a result of a specific medical cause, and is associated with a number of symptoms like headaches, sore throat, muscle ache, joint pains, sleep disturbances, tenderness in lymph nodes and mood and sleep disturbances.

CAUSES OF CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME

The causes for chronic fatigue syndrome are still not fully understood. While various researchers and medical experts have attempted to associate this condition with various causes from time to time, there is still no consensus regarding the exact cause or the manner in which those causes lead to chronic fatigue syndrome.

The available information suggests a few likely causes.

(i) INFECTIONS Chronic fatigue syndrome commonly develops for the first time as part of some infective disease or event, or it may develop immediately following it. Among the infections that are commonly seen to be associated with it are viruses like Ebstein bar virus, Cytomegalovirus, human herpes virus, retroviruses or enteroviruses. It can also be associated with fungal infections like Candida albicans, or bacterial infections from Mycoplasma species. It is also associated commonly with Infectious Mononucleosis.

(ii) IMMUNOLOGIC DISTURBANCES Many persons diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome are known to have immunological disturbances in their earlier life or childhood. Some researchers have suggested the possibility of auto-immune diseases, where the body's own immunity leads to damage of body tissues. However, the medical evidence available is not enough.

(iii) NEURO-PSYCHOLOGICAL COMPONENTS The frequency of many neurological and psychiatric symptoms in persons diagnosed as having chronic fatigue syndrome, has suggested that this condition may have a psychiatric component. Depression is a very common feature, observed in almost two third

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>