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Summary
Other related conditions
- Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is characterised by a sudden or gradual onset of persistent disabling fatigue, post-exertional malaise (PEM, exertional exhaustion), unrefreshing sleep, cognitive and autonomic dysfunction, myalgia, arthralgia, headache, and sore throat and lymph nodes, with symptoms lasting at least 6 months.
- Exertional exhaustion is the critical aspect that distinguishes myalgic encephalomyelitis/CFS from other nociceptive, interoceptive, and fatiguing illnesses.
- The lack of energy may be caused by autoimmune and metabolomic dysfunction that reduces mitochondrial ATP production.
- The primary goals of management are to provide a supportive healthcare environment with a team of occupational, physio, and other appropriate therapists who will manage symptoms and improve functional capacity.
- The chronic but fluctuating disabilities require substantial lifestyle changes to plan each day's activities carefully, conserve energy resources for the most important tasks, schedule rest periods to avoid individuals overtaxing themselves, and to improve the quality of sleep.
- Medications are not curative. Pharmacotherapy is indicated to treat pain, migraine, sleep disturbance, and comorbid conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety, or depression.