Chronic Fatigue: A Case Study

Discussion The proper diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), or myalgia encephalomyelitis, requires familiarity with the early sings and symptoms of this disease. According to the International Association for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (n.d.), the diagnosis of CFS involves several critical elements about the patient’s history, patient’s symptoms patterns, and a complete exclusion of other illness causing fatigue. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS, n.d.) mentions that the initial step towards a correct diagnosis is a comparison of the patient’s history and symptoms with a case definition. These definitions can be as many as nine different types of definitions, all defining chronic fatigue/myalgic …show more content…
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF, n.d.) does not even have screening guidelines for chronic fatigue or even a definition of this syndrome. Currently, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS, n.d.), is investigating the pathophysiology of fatigue and post-infections myalgic encephalomyelitis. The National Center for Advancing Science (2016), states that the diagnosis of chronic fatigue must satisfy the following three elements: first, chronic fatigue must interfere with activities of daily living and work which must be an onset event that does not result from excessive exertion or other medical conditions and which rest does not improve symptoms; second, post-exertional malaise (general feeling of discomfort, illness, or lack of well-being) (Marr, 2012); and third, unrefreshing sleep. The present document addresses chronic fatigue, its causative factors, the population affected by it and the environmental factors related to