Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

Chronic fatigue syndrome is also known as "chronic neuroendocrine immune dysfunction." It is a chronic disease that usually does not disappear with rest, lasts more than 6 months, is common in the musculoskeletal system and headaches, and affects many systems. The difference between chronic fatigue syndrome and other diseases that cause fatigue is that the exact cause of the disease is unknown. Whether chronic fatigue syndrome is caused by medical (organic) or psychiatric causes is controversial in the medical world. Therefore, history, physical examination, mental health and laboratory findings are evaluated for the diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome.

What Are the Symptoms of Chronic Fatigue?

Persistent fatigue and lethargy, chronic fatigue lasting longer than 6 months for unknown reasons, and fatigue that does not go away with rest are among the symptoms. Muscle and joint pain not related to rheumatic disease and severe enough to limit the person's daily activities. Throat ache. Stomach ache. Energy loss. Nausea and vomiting. Hypersensitivity to noise, light and environmental influences. Forgetfulness and impaired cognitive performance and related concentration problems. Sleep patterns and sleep quality disorders, "inability to sleep" despite 58 hours of sleep. As a result, the immune system weakens.

How is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Diagnosed?

There is no specific test to diagnose chronic fatigue syndrome. The diagnosis is made after exclusion of other clinical conditions that may cause fatigue. In particular, depression should not be confused with chronic fatigue syndrome. However, over time, patients may develop mental disorders and especially depression. However, this does not mean that everyone who suffers from depression has chronic fatigue syndrome.

Clinically unidentified, clinically persistent or recurrent fatigue that has recently started or at a known time (eg, not throughout life) is a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome. It is not the result of ongoing mobility, it is not primarily relieved by rest, and the person's work performance is significantly interrupted. If education, social life, and personal life activities are affected, it may be sufficient for a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome.

How Is Chronic Fatigue Treated?

In the case of chronic fatigue, the history of fatigue symptoms (anamnesis) presented by the patient to the doctor is extremely important. Symptoms of fatigue and comorbidities (comorbidities) are equally important to the specialist. In addition, the physician records all meaningful information about the patient, from the patient's social history to their work and daily activities.

Many immune (autoimmune), rheumatological, inflammatory and metabolic diseases are associated with chronic fatigue syndrome. It is necessary to apply to a rheumatology or internist specialist for the subject. Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease that is often confused with fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndromes. Therefore, the best doctor to make this distinction seems to be a rheumatologist. Before a patient is diagnosed with "chronic fatigue syndrome" or "chronic fatigue due to fibromyalgia syndrome", it is useful to have the diagnosis reviewed by a rheumatologist.

The rheumatologist must consider many factors in order to make the correct diagnosis. Chronic fatigue syndrome can be treated after a correct diagnosis is made. Treatment usually begins with the elimination of the causes of inflammation. It is important to reduce foods that cause inflammation. An anti-inflammatory diet by a rheumatologist and nutritionist is extremely important in this context.