What causes CFS?

Answer 1

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syndrome is a collection of symptoms and/or physical abnormalities - the word syndrome does not imply any single cause for an illness. CFS has been the subject of intense research for several years, particularly here in the UK and in the USA, and many theories have been published. None of these theories have been proven and no one cause has been found which would explain all cases of CFS. Some theories suggest that CFS is a virus infection, whilst others suggest a psychological cause. At the City Hospital we believe that individual patients may each have several different factors making them unwell; we do not think that the different theories are mutually exclusive.

A minority of people (probably less than 10%) who develop symptoms suggestive of CFS, will have an underlying physical disorder, such as anaemia or hypothyroidism, which may explain all the symptoms experienced. Perhaps a similar number will have an underlying psychiatric disorder, such as depressive illness or an anxiety disorder (which can both present with predominantly physical symptoms). In both cases, treatment of the underlying disorder should lead to relatively rapid return to well-being.

The following sections summarise the more popular theories about the cause of CFS.

Answer 2

No one knows for sure what causes CFS. Many people with CFS say it started after an infection, such as a cold or stomach bug. It also can follow a bout of infectious mononucleosis (mono), the “kissing disease” that drains your energy. Some people with CFS say it started after a time of great stress, such as the loss of a loved one or major surgery.
It can be hard to figure out if a person has CFS because extreme tiredness is a common symptom of many illnesses. Also, some medical treatments, such as chemotherapy, can cause extreme tiredness.

Answer 3

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), post-viral fatigue syndrome (PVFS), and various other names, is a syndrome (or group of syndromes) of unknown and possibly multiple etiologies, affecting the central nervous system (CNS), immune, and many other systems and organs. There is no simple diagnostic test; CFS is a diagnosis of exclusion, although recent research indicates biological hallmarks of the syndrome, and a diagnostic test is predicted soon. Most definitions (other than the 1991 UK Oxford criteria[1]) require a number of features, the most common being severe mental and physical exhaustion or depletion which is "unrelieved by rest" (according to the 1994 Fukuda definition),[2] and is often worsened by even trivial exertion (controversially, the Oxford and Fukuda criteria require this to be optional only). CFS occurs more often, but not exclusively, in women, for unknown reasons. CFS is most easily diagnosed when formerly active adults become ill, and is most commonly diagnosed in young to middle aged adults, although it is also reported, albeit less commonly, in adolescents and the elderly [3].

Patients with this diagnosis may report many other symptoms which are far more wide-ranging than these research diagnostic criteria, including: muscle weakness, loss of brain function, hypersensitivity, orthostatic intolerance, digestive disturbances, depression, immune system weakness, and cardiac and respiratory problems. However, these symptoms may represent comorbid or overlapping conditions rather than ME/CFS itself [4]. These symptoms, like the syndrome's hallmark 'fatigue', range from mild to severe. Some cases resolve or improve over time, and where available, treatments bring a degree of improvement to many others. Most diagnostic criteria insist that the symptoms must be present for at least six months, and all insist on there being no other cause for the fatigue: i.e. the fatigue must be idiopathic, not caused by conditions such as radiation treatment for cancer, or diabetes. CFS remains a controversial diagnosis, and even its terminology and classification are controversial.

**Recently, genetics and stress have been found to be factors in the development of CFS.

Answer 4

What Causes Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?
The cause of CFS is not yet known. Current research is exploring the possibility that people with CFS may have a dysfunction of the immune and central nervous systems. Scientists are also studying various metabolic abnormalities and risk factors (including genetic predisposition, age, sex, prior illness, environment, and stress) that may affect the development and course of the disease.

Some researchers have suggested that a virus causes CFS, but this theory has not been proved. At one time, researchers thought that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) played a role in 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. Researchers today are hard at work trying to prove a possible viral link to CFS.

Other theories suggest that one of the following factors may be to blame for CFS:

iron-poor blood (anemia)
low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
environmental allergies
a body-wide yeast infection
psychiatric or neurological problems
endocrine dysfunction
hypotension (low blood pressure)
Symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
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.

Answer 5

CFS...............?What is that...........chicken.fried Snakes ? got some gravy to go with it ?

Answer 6

http://www.umm.edu/patiented/articles/what_causes_chronic_fatigue_syndrome_000007_3.htm