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What is the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

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Chronic fatigue syndrome is a complex disorder of unknown cause, which can seriously affect the quality of life. In addition to extreme tiredness, which does not diminish when resting, it is associated with other general manifestations such as concentration or memory problems.

Having a positive attitude and believing in one's own improvement is of great help to patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Joaquín Fernandez Internal Medicine Specialist

Over time I have learned to listen to my body and know my own limits. Adapting and accepting the disease is basic.

Cristina Patient

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is characterised by intense, debilitating and severe physical and mental fatigue that lasts at least six months; it may have a fluctuating nature and no apparent cause. In addition, it seriously interferes with daily activities, does not go away with rest, worsens with exercise and is associated with other general, physical and neuropsychological symptoms.

The person experiences a loss of concentration, memory and mental agility (cognitive impacts).

People with chronic fatigue cannot do the same activities as before, such as their everyday work or take part in their favourite sport (physical impact).

The condition significantly deteriorates their quality of life, affects their daily activities and can cause social withdrawal and isolation (social impacts).

However the physical element is not a diagnosis for the illness and patients with chronic fatigue syndrome can present a completely healthy appearance.

How many people have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

According to studies, it is estimated that 0.3 – 0.5% of the population suffer from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and it affects, therefore, between 120,000 and 200,000 people in Spain.

Alternate names for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Some of the alternate names for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) are:

Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) (a name often used in Anglo-Saxon countries).
Yuppie flu.
Post-viral fatigue syndrome (PVFS).
Post-mononucleosis syndrome.
Altitude sickness or Da Costa’s syndrome.
Gulf War syndrome.

In 2015, the US Institute of Medicine (IOM) proposed the name Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease (Clayton E.W., JAMA 1346. 10/2/2015), but this has not yet been accepted by the scientific community or the WHO.

And what isn’t chronic fatigue?

The illness was incorrectly known as neurasthenia in the nineteenth century.
There is also a tendency for the incorrect use of the term asthenia instead of fatigue, it is not recommended as they are not the same thing. Asthenia is a feeling that can be overcome by the patient, whereas fatigue is not.
Nor is CFS a type of depression.

Chronological evolution of disease

Firstly, potential patients must have the predisposing factors to the condition.
The illness is initiated when the person comes into contact with the triggers.
Furthermore, there are factors which course at the same time (presence of one or more diseases, comorbidity) and others that may have an influence on the persistence of the illness.

Substantiated information by:

Joaquim Fernández Solà Medical Internist Head of the Central Sensitization Syndromes Unit

Published: 20 February 2018
Updated: 20 February 2018

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