Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a autoimmune disease . It can be the presentation of a Although it is not a new disease, it is currently understood as a physical problem rater then a psychiatric one.

Several years of research have confirmed that CFS is indeed a physical illness - just one that's not fully understood. An estimated half a million people in the United States have a CFS-like condition, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The hallmark symptoms of CFS are overwhelming fatigue and weakness that make it extremely difficult to perform routine and daily tasks, like getting out of bed, dressing, and eating. The fatigue does not get better with bed rest. The illness can severely affect school, work, and leisure activities, and cause physical and emotional symptoms that can last for months or even years.

Chronic fatigue syndrome is more common in females than males and it affects all racial and ethnic groups. CFS usually strikes people between the ages of 20 and 40, but it also occurs in teens. A CFS-like illness also has been determined to occur in children younger than 12. The actual number of children and teens affected by CFS is unknown.

What Causes Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?
The cause of CFS is AUTOIMMUNE and the trigger is usually a infection or chemical.

Some researchers have suggested that a virus causes CFS, . At one time, researchers thought that. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) may trigger the development of CFS in many people.The symptoms of CFS often mimic a viral infection, such as chronic infectious mononucleosis.

Other theories suggest that one of the following factors may be to blame for CFS:
endocrine dysfunction
hypotension (low blood pressure)
Symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

iron-poor blood (anemia)
low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
environmental allergies
a body-wide yeast infection
Neurological problems
Because the symptoms of CFS are so many and can vary widely from person to person, the CDC developed a detailed case definition in 1994 to help doctors diagnose it. According to that definition, in order to be diagnosed with CFS a person must have both:

severe, chronic fatigue for at least 6 months or longer that is not alleviated by rest, with other known medical conditions having been excluded by a doctor's diagnosis
four or more of the following symptoms:
- forgetfulness or difficulty concentrating

- sore throat
- tender lymph nodes in the neck or armpit
- muscle pain or multi-joint pain without swelling
- headaches of a new type, pattern, or severity
 

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Pathalogy in CIDP and autoimmune diseases