Identifying and managing chronic fatigue syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is the most common name given to conditions characterized by persistent fatigue that is unrelated to physical exertion and not substantially relieved by rest (Evengård et al, 1999). CFS is classified by the Department of Health (DH) as a long-term neurological condition. In CFS the symptoms of fatigue are not caused by any other known medical conditions. The condition is also sometimes refered to as post-viral fatigue syndrome (PVFS) or chronic fatigue immune dysfunction syndrome (CFIDS) when it follows a flu-like infection, or as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME). Most clinicians use the terms CFS and ME interchangeably to refer to chronic post-viral fatigue (Gallagher et al, 2004). However, certain groups have argued for ME to be recognized as a separate condition, but this is controversial (Wyller, 2007). In this aritcle ‘CFS’ will be used as an umbrella term.