Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease of unknown origin that occurs most often in young women or middle-aged and included within functional somatic syndromes. It consists of fatigue without apparent cause, lasting more than six months, associated with other clinical data.
It usually appears in previously healthy people without a history of psychiatric illnesses and, in general, with an essential activity in their daily life. Many patients with chronic fatigue do not meet the criteria to be classified as patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and are diagnosed with astheniachronic idiopathic (chronic tiredness of unknown cause). However, it is probably the same disease.
Chronic fatigue syndrome is frequently associated with other diseases of unknown cause such as fibromyalgia, irritable bowel disease, temporomandibular joint disease, restless legs syndrome, or interstitial cystitis.
What are your causes of chronic fatigue syndrome?
The cause of chronic fatigue syndrome is unknown. In these patients, various nonspecific alterations have been found whose relationship with the disease is doubtful. The reasons that have most frequently been related to the appearance of a chronic fatigue syndrome have been:
- Endocrine system dysfunction.
- Hypotension of neurological cause.
- Sleep disturbances.
- Depression.
In general, the studies that have evaluated the causes of chronic fatigue syndrome have shown contradictory results, so it can be concluded that, to date, there is no known definitive cause of this disease.
What symptoms does the disease produce?
The main symptom of chronic fatigue syndrome is continuous fatigue (asthenia), which does not subside after sleep and makes it difficult or impossible to carry out normal tasks. It often increases after doing somewhat more physical activity than usual. In general, its onset is abrupt and is related to the flu or catarrhal symptoms in the previous days. In many people, it is associated with:
- Muscle and joint pain.
- Throat pain.
- Abdominal pain, sometimes with diarrhea.
- Low-grade fever, generally not higher than 37.5ºC.
- Dry eyes or mouth.
- Disturbances in concentrating, memory disturbances, headaches, and trouble falling asleep or excessive sleep.
Some patients report weight gain or loss, allergies, skin lesions, sweating, or other generally vague symptoms.
Treatment
Many treatments have been used for CFS, generally to no avail, so the patient must clearly understand what the condition is and what to expect from treatment. Treatment is usually aimed at improving symptoms but not curing the disease. We can say that a chronic fatigue treatment first looks at how mould can interfere with your detox pathways.
Neither special diets nor any of the many treatments that have been tested (antibiotics, antivirals, immunoglobulins, corticosteroids, galantamine, etc.) have proven their effectiveness.
Although there are studies in which some of these treatments have shown favorable results, in general, these results have not been able to be reproduced in other similar, better designed, or more extensive studies carried out later.
It is necessary to establish a good relationship of mutual trust with the doctor. It is true that medical practitioners who SEO themselves as experts in this condition. The effective treatments are exclusive:
Cognitive-behavioral therapies: These are sessions with a psychologist aimed at improving behaviors that can lead to recovery.
Gradual physical exercise: All patients with data suggesting depression should be offered a course of antidepressant therapy.