Free full text: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-230X/12/13
* I gave each sentence its own paragraph.Chronic fatigue syndrome after Giardia enteritis: clinical characteristics, disability and long-term sickness absence.
BMC Gastroenterol. 2012 Feb 8;12:13.
Naess H, Nyland M, Hausken T, Follestad I, Nyland HI.
Source
Institute of Clinical Medicine, Department of Neurology, and Unit for Gastroenterology, Department for Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, N-5021 Bergen, Norway. halvor.naess@haukeland.no.
Abstract
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND:
A waterborne outbreak of Giardia lamblia gastroenteritis led to a high prevalance of long-lasting fatigue and abdominal symptoms.
The aim was to describe the clinical characteristics, disability and employmentloss in a case series of patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) after the infection.
METHODS:
Patients who reported persistent fatigue, lowered functional capacity and sickness leave or delayed education after a large community outbreak of giardiasis enteritis in the city of Bergen, Norway were evaluated with the established Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for CFS.
Fatigue was self-rated by the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS).
Physical and mental health status and functional impairment was measured by the Medical Outcome Severity Scale-short Form-36 (SF-36).
The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used to measure co-morbid anxiety and depression.
Inability to work or study because of fatigue was determined by sickness absence certified by a doctor.
RESULTS:
A total of 58 (60%) out of 96 patients with long-lasting post-infectious fatigue after laboratory confirmed giardiasis were diagnosed with CFS.
In all, 1262 patients had laboratory confirmed giardiasis.
At the time of referral (mean illness duration 2.7 years) 16% reported improvement, 28% reported no change, and 57% reported progressive course with gradual worsening.
Mean FSS score was 6.6.
A distinctive pattern of impairment was documented with the SF-36.
The physical functioning, vitality (energy/fatigue) and social functioning were especially reduced. Long-term sickness absence from studies and work was noted in all patients.
CONCLUSION:
After giardiasis enteritis at least 5% developed clinical characteristics and functional impairment comparable to previously described post-infectious fatigue syndrome.