Health
New Findings About Chronic Fatigue
ThirdAge Staff
Chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome (CFIDS) goes by a lot of names: chronic fatigue syndrome, myalgic encephalomyelitis. Sometimes it's called the "yuppie flu." Researchers now believe it afflicts a much wider population.
CFIDS is most common among people ages 40 to 59, and as many as 800,000 people nationwide may suffer from the illness, according to a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
"This figure is significant as it is twice the number previously estimated by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention," says Peter Wolfe, M.D., a Los Angeles infectious disease specialist and associate professor of medicine at UCLA.
CFIDS was once thought to be a rare condition afflicting mostly white, upper middle class professionals. Researchers in Chicago found the highest levels of the illness among minority groups and individuals with less education and occupational status, such as blue-collar workers. The study estimates that 422 out of every 100,000 adults has CFIDS.
Debilitating fatigue is the primary symptom of CFIDS. Bed rest doesn't help. Physical or mental activity may make it worse. Other symptoms include impairment of short-term memory or concentration, sore throat, tender lymph nodes, muscle and joint pain and headaches.
CFIDS patients function at markedly lower levels than before onset of the illness. Many are unable to work, attend school or care for themselves or family members. The illness is further baffling in that some patients experience periods of remission, during which they can return to normal activities.
The cause of CFIDS is not clear, though scientific evidence points to an underlying biological disorder involving the brain and immune system. There is no diagnostic test for the illness, and no cure.
Some patients benefit from immunoglobulin and other immunologic therapies, nutritional supplements or various prescription drugs. The CDC advises that people with CFIDS work with a physician to create an individualized treatment plan. You'll find tips on Choosing a Doctor on this Website.
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