special subjects
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Introduction
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS, also called myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome [ME/CFS]) is a syndrome of life-altering fatigue lasting > 6 months that is unexplained and is accompanied by a number of associated symptoms. Management includes validating the patient's disability, treating specific symptoms, and in some patients cognitive-behavioral therapy and a graded exercise program. Although as many as 25% of people in the United States report being chronically Fatigue ( CFS is not malingering (intentional feigning of symptoms). CFS does share many features with Fibromyalgia , such as sleep disorders, mental cloudiness, fatigue, pain, and exacerbation of symptoms with activity. 