Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (cont.)

Without knowing the cause of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), it is difficult to determine risk factors. However, statistics gathered about people with diagnosed CFS do tell something about some high-risk groups. For example, although people of every age, gender, race, and economic group can get CFS, it is most commonly diagnosed in people in the 40- and 50-year-old age group. In addition, CFS is diagnosed about four times as often in women (some investigators consider menopause as a possible risk factor). In the pediatric-aged group, teens are most often affected.

The symptoms and signs of chronic fatigue syndrome are complex but specific. The patient must have severe chronic fatigue of 6 months or longer duration with other known medical conditions excluded by clinical diagnosis. In addition, the patients have four or more of the following symptoms that either occurred at the same time or after the severe chronic fatigue. The symptoms are substantial impairment in short-term memory or concentration; sore throat; tender lymph nodes; muscle pain; multi-joint pain without swelling or redness; headaches of a new type, pattern or severity; non-refreshing sleep; and post-exertion malaise lasting more than 24 hours. Patients may often have additional symptoms such as double vision, mild fevers, earaches, diarrhea, and many other symptoms, but they do not fit into the criteria that are considered to be part of the definition of CFS.

Source: MedicineNet.com
http://www.medicinenet.com/chronic_fatigue_syndrome/article.htm