CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME
This is a chronic illness that is furnishes symptoms similar to that of viral infections. Nevertheless, the symptoms do not disappear like in a normal viral infection but last indefinitely for many months and sometimes even years.
CAUSES:
The cause of Chronic fatigue syndrome continues to remain in the dark and hence is a subject of active research. The plausible causes can however be pinpointed as follows:
? Anemia that is memory loss as a result of iron deficiency
? History of allergies
? Viral infection
? Hypoglycemia or low blood sugar
? Hormonal level changes
? Hypotension or low blood pressure
? Dysfunction in the immune system
However, there are many cases reported that have no history of any specific infection or disease. Lack of medical knowledge of this illness continues to add to the list of difficulties faced.

Symptoms:
These include:
? Memory or concentration loss
? Sore throat
? Lymph nodes in the throat or arm-pits
? Jumping of pain from joint to joint without signs of redness or inflammation.
? Irregular or disturbing sleep hours
? Extreme exhaustion after normal exercise
? Alcohol intolerance
? Obesity
? Chest pain
? Earache
? Irregular heartbeat
? Nausea
? Night sweats
? Emotional distress
? Shortness of breath
? New pattern of headache or difference in severity of one
Symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome are of the peek-a-boo kind. They recur and disappear at irregular intervals.

Diagnosis
Diagnosis of Chronic fatigue syndrome follows the elimination test. There is no diagnostic or laboratory technique till date that confirms chronic fatigue syndrome. The common eliminations include:
? Hypothyroidism ( low levels of thyroid hormones) or sleep apnea
? Fatigue causing medicines
? Relapse of previously treated illnesses such as cancer.
? Past history or recent diagnosis of major anxiety related Abusing alcohol or another substance
? Extreme obesity as indicated by a body mass index (BMI) ? 45

Treatment:
Generally doctors aim at relieving the symptoms by using a combination of treatments. These can be categorized as follows:
? Less activity oriented change: Doctors generally advice a drastic reduction in unnecessary activities. This helps save energy for essential activities
? Specific exercise programme: In this form of treatment doctors prescribe a gradual and regular fitness programme. With the aid of a physical therapist a graduated exercise program in which physical activity gradually increases can be commenced so as to decrease the muscle weakness caused by prolonged inactivity.
? Psychiatric treatment: Here the doctors tend to treat emotional distress and anxiety related disorders. These include behavior therapy or medications such as tricyclic antidepressants.
? Existing pain treatment: This is done with the aid of drugs like aspirin, ibuprofen and other pain killers and anti-inflammatory drugs.
? Allergy treatment: This is done with the aid of antihistamines such as cetrazine and decongestants that contain pseudoephedrine
? Treatment of hypotension. This includes drugs like fludrocortisone and proamatine
? Treatment of nervous disorders: Symptoms of dizziness and extreme skin tenderness can sometimes be relieved by clonazepam

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