Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Symptoms & Signs

Symptoms of C.F.S. are similar to those of most common viral infections (muscle aches, headache, and fatigue), often developing within a few hours or days and lasting for 6 months or more.

Main symptoms:

• fatigue or tiredness, never experienced to this extent before (new onset), lasting at least 6 months and not relieved by bed rest
• fatigue that is severe enough to restrict activity (serious fatigue develops with less than one-half of the exertion compared to before the illness)

Other symptoms:

• fatigue lasting more than 24 hours that develops after an amount of exercise that would normally be easily tolerated
• mild fever (low-grade: 101 degrees F or less)
• sore throat
• lymph node tenderness in the neck or armpit (axilla)
• muscle weakness, all over or multiple locations, not explained by any known disorder
• muscle aches (myalgias)
• sleep disturbances: sleeping too much (hypersomnia) or difficulty falling asleep or remaining asleep (insomnia)
• headaches, different from previous headaches in quality, severity, or pattern
• joint pain, often moving from joint to joint (migratory arthralgias), without joint swelling or redness
• unusual nervous system symptoms, such as:
  • increased sensitivity of eyes to light (photophobia)
  • forgetfulness
  • irritability
  • confusion
  • thinking seems "fuzzy" or "foggy"
  • difficulty concentrating
  • depression