On my website I compiled a list of known triggers of ME/CFS, and factors known to contribute to the development of ME/CFS (all of which are backed up studies or doctor's observations). These are as follows:
Microbial Causes and Associations of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Enterovirus. Enterovirus infection (with coxsackievirus B or echovirus) is associated with chronic fatigue syndrome. 1 2 3 4 5
• Parvovirus B19. Parvovirus B19 infection is a known cause of chronic fatigue syndrome.
1 2 3
• Chlamydia pneumoniae. Chlamydia pneumoniae is a bacterium known to cause chronic fatigue syndrome.
1
• Coxiella burnetii. Coxiella burnetii is a rare bacterium that causes Q-fever, and has also been known to cause chronic fatigue syndrome.
1 2
• Brucella. Brucella is a bacterium known to cause chronic fatigue syndrome-like symptoms.
• Giardia lamblia, a protozoan parasite that infects the small intestine causing giardiasis, has been shown to later lead to ME/CFS in a small percentage (around 5%) of individuals infected with it.
1 2 3
• Human herpes six virus (HHV-6). Active infection with HHV-6 has been found in chronic fatigue syndrome, and this may be an exacerbating factor in CFS.
1 2
• Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). EBV infection may cause ME/CFS-like symptoms for a short period of several months, and sometimes for longer periods. Active infection with EBV has also been found in chronic fatigue syndrome,
1 2 and this may be an exacerbating factor in ME/CFS.
• Mycoplasma bacteria infection, from species such as Mycoplasma fermentans, Mycoplasma hominis and Mycoplasma penetrans, may cause or contribute to ME/CFS symptoms.
1 2
• Other pathogenic microbes linked to ME/CFS include: Herpes simplex I and II, cytomegalovirus, HHV-7, varicella zoster virus, hepatitis C virus, HTLV I and II, neurovirulent influenza A, Ross River virus, SARS coronavirus, and Toxoplasma gondii.
Factors Linked to the Development of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Exposure to
organophosphate pesticides has been implicated as a predisposing factor to ME/CFS.
1
• Exposure to significant quantities of
mold toxins (usually from water-damaged buildings) is a predisposing factor for precipitating ME/CFS (certain species of mold contain potent neurotoxins).
1 2
• If
corticosteroids (immunosuppressants) are given during the acute phase of a significant respiratory infection, this has been found to sometimes lead to ME/CFS.
1
• Exposure to
ciguatoxin can result in chronic fatigue syndrome.
1 2
• Exposure to
ionizing radiation is a cause of ME/CFS-like symptoms (post-radiation syndrome).
1
• Cancer patients who undergo
radiation therapy or
chemotherapy quite often develop ME/CFS soon after.
1
• Chronic fatigue syndrome can sometimes ensue after an episode of
meningitis.
1
• Chronic fatigue syndrome can very occasionally appear after having
major surgery.
• Sometimes a major
physical trauma — particularly a motor vehicle accident — can precipitate ME/CFS; trauma to the head has been shown to lead to fatigue.
1
• Food poisoning very occasionally leads to ME/CFS.
• Chronic fatigue syndrome has sometimes been precipitated by
vaccination,
1 such as hepatitis B virus vaccination.
1
• Silicone used for breast and other implants, as well as silicone injections, can in rare cases cause an ME/CFS-like illness, as well as autoimmune conditions.
• Exposure to
tung oil has been proposed as a cause for ME/CFS.
1 2
• Jaw bone infections (osteomyelitis) may cause ME/CFS-like symptoms.
Already having the conditions of:
irritable bowel syndrome,
1 2 3 interstitial cystitis,
1 2 chronic prostatitis 1 and/or
endometriosis 1 may act as predisposing factors to acquiring ME/CFS, as these are all common comorbidities of ME/CFS, and such comorbidities are sometimes suspected of playing causal roles.
(By the way, if anyone knows of any ME/CFS causes, triggers or predisposing factors that I have left out in the above list, please let me know).
