Dr. Wojo. Healthy Living. Simplified.

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is one of the more difficult medical conditions to diagnose. It has a long list of symptoms that are common to other diseases or illnesses and those symptoms may wane or get progressively worse in no particular pattern.

While no root cause has yet been identified for CFS, recent research indicates CFS may be caused by a rare mouse-related virus - murine leukemia virus (MLV). MLV, which causes cancer in mice, was found in the blood of 86 percent of tested CFS patients. In comparison, only seven percent of healthy blood donors had MLV in their samples. Scientists admit these findings are just the beginning - further research is needed to determine if an actual link between MLV and CFS exists.

Currently there is no one diagnostic test or cure for CFS. Doctors diagnose CFS by ruling out other medical issues. In general, to be diagnosed with CFS you have to experience persistent and extreme fatigue for at least six months and have at least four of the following eight symptoms:

• Memory or concentration difficulties
• Sore throat
• Unexplained muscle pain
• Pain in the joints
• Headaches
• Sleep disturbances
• Sore and enlarged lymph nodes in your neck or armpits
• Extreme exhaustion lasting more than 24 hours after physical or mental exercise

Women are most often diagnosed with CFS but research has not proven that sex is a risk factor. Instead, women may be more likely to report CFS symptoms to a doctor. People of all ages can get CFS but it is most common in people in their 40s and 50s.

If you are diagnosed with CFS your doctor’s chosen treatment will depend on the relieving the symptoms you are experiencing. Treatments generally consist of a combination of steps that help patients moderate their daily activity and exercise, address sleep problems and persistent pain, reduce stress, treat depression, relieve allergy-like symptoms and address low blood pressure or nervous system disorders.

In general, see your doctor if you are experiencing persistent or excessive fatigue.