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 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, but many people who are diagnosed with CFS
have no evidence of EBV infection. However, a viral cause for CFS is
still suspected because 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
psychiatric or neurological problems
Because the symptoms of CFS are so vague 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
- unrefreshing sleep and vague feelings of illness or depression
after exerting oneself, lasting more than 24 hours following
exertion
- tiredness that lasts longer than 24 hours
In addition, any of the above symptoms associated with the fatigue
must have occurred for at least 6 or more months in a row. Also,
continuous fatigue should have been the first noticeable symptom of
illness.
Other symptoms of CFS can include mild fever, blurry vision, chills,
night sweats, diarrhea, and fluctuations in appetite and weight.
Diagnosing Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome is hard to diagnose because a single
diagnostic test does not exist and there is no identifiable cause of
the illness. Another problem is that symptoms of CFS often mimic
other disorders such as viral infections, kidney disease, cardiac
disease, depression, and neurological illnesses. Doctors first have
to make sure that a person's fatigue and other symptoms are not
caused by another illness, a sleep disorder, or hormone problems
such as hypothyroidism.
We all get tired, depressed, and run down. But CFS is different from
normal feelings of fatigue and low energy. Symptoms of CFS often
develop suddenly and include a strong, noticeable fatigue that comes
and goes or remains for months.
When examining your child, a doctor will be looking to first rule
out diseases that appear similar to CFS, such as multiple sclerosis
and systemic lupus. In addition to doing a physical examination, the
doctor will ask you about any concerns and symptoms you have, your
past health, your family's health, any medications your child is
taking, any allergies your child may have, and other issues. This is
called the medical history. Blood and urine tests will be given to
identify any other possible causes of illness.
Your child also will probably meet with a psychologist or therapist
who can help assess the symptoms in relation to his or her cognitive
skills, concentration, memory, personality, and overall
psychological state. This is helpful because CFS is often seen in
people who also have depression or anxiety. In fact, it's because
many people with CFS have also been diagnosed with depression or
anxiety that some health professionals mistake CFS for a psychiatric
condition.
During subsequent office visits, you and your child's doctor should
discuss any new symptoms, which might suggest that the problem is
something other than CFS. If other diseases are ruled out and if
your child's illness meets the criteria of the case definition, a
diagnosis of CFS can be made.
Because kids and teens often feel tired for many reasons, CFS is a
potentially misused or abused diagnosis. Children sometimes use
fatigue as an excuse to avoid school or other activities. Many teens
are overly active in a number of sports, which can cause fatigue.
For these reasons, doctors are careful when making a diagnosis of
CFS.
Treatment for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Regular, carefully planned exercise, which helps by providing
healing movement, increased energy, and feelings of well being.
Exercise should not be extreme - people with CFS should always pace
themselves while doing any physical activity that requires exertion.
Stress management and reduction techniques, which teach
strategies for taking control over certain aspects of the illness.
A healthy diet, which can minimize symptoms and general
discomfort. Doctors agree that people with CFS should avoid heavy
meals, alcohol, caffeine, and large quantities of junk food.
Acupuncture, massage, stretching, yoga, and tai chi have been
helpful for many people with CFS.
In addition to lifestyle changes, to change negative or unrealistic
thoughts or feelings into positive, realistic ones. It also can help
children with CFS and their families learn to deal with academic or
social problems brought on by the illness, such as missed school,
poor performance, or withdrawal from friends and social situations.
Some people find that antidepressant medications can help ease the
symptoms. Pain medications and anti-inflammatory drugs, such as
ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or other more powerful pain medications,
are also beneficial to some individuals. Antiviral medications are
being used with some success, and scientists continue to investigate
newer and more effective drugs to combat the symptoms of CFS.
For most people, the symptoms of CFS are most severe in the
beginning, and later they may come and go. Some people recover
completely from CFS, although it's not clear why this happens.
According to the CDC, almost 50% of CFS patients experience partial
or full recovery within 5 years after the CFS symptoms began.
Coping with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Have a exercise program to maintain strength at whatever level is
possible. Maintaining some level of activity and exercise.
Please read the autoimmune E-Book for permanent treatment
guidelines. We offer permanent treatment of CFS in our E-Book.
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