Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome, CFIDS

Chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome, or CFIDS, is a debilitating disorder characterized by profound tiredness or fatigue. Patients with CFIDS may become exhausted with only light physical exertion. In addition, patients generally report various nonspecific symptoms, including weakness, muscle aches and pains, excessive sleep, malaise, fever, sore throat, tender lymph nodes, impaired memory and/or concentration, insomnia, and depression. CFIDS can persist for years.

The revised case definition of chronic fatigue syndrome (from "The Facts About Chronic Fatigue Syndrome", U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, March 1995)

Guidelines for the evaluation and study of CFS
A thorough medical history, physical examination, mental status examination, and laboratory tests must be conducted to identify underlying or contributing conditions that require treatment. Diagnosis or classification cannot be made without such an evaluation. Clinically evaluated, unexplained chronic fatigue cases can be classified as CFS if the patient meets both the following criteria:

1. Clinically evaluated, unexplained persistent or relapsing chronic fatigue that is of new or definite onset (i.e., not lifelong), is not the result of ongoing exertion, is not substantially alleviated by rest, and results in substantial reduction in previous levels of occupational, educational, social, or personal activities.

2. The concurrent occurrence of four or more of the following symptoms:

• substantial impairment in short-term memory or concentration
• sore throat
• tender lymph nodes
• muscle pain
• multijoint pain without swelling or redness
• headaches of a new type, pattern or severity
• unrefreshing sleep
• post exertional malaise lasting more than 24 hours

These symptoms must have persisted or recurred during 6 or more consecutive months of illness and must not have predated the fatigue.