Health Facts

Chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome (CFIDS), also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), is a complex and debilitating chronic illness that affects the brain and multiple body systems. Although its name trivializes the illness as little more than mere tiredness, chronic fatigue syndrome brings with it a myriad of debilitating symptoms. CFIDS is characterized by incapacitating fatigue with profound exhaustion and extremely poor stamina along with problems with concentration and short-term memory. (The definition of fatigue accepted by most research groups is fatigue of new onset lasting more than six months with a 50% reduction in activity.) CFS is accompanied by flu-like symptoms such as pain in the joints and muscles, unsatisfying sleep, tender lymph nodes, sore throat and headache. A distinctive characteristic of the illness is malaise after exertion, which is a worsening of symptoms following physical or mental exertion within 12-48 hours of the exertion and requiring an extended recovery period. The symptoms of CFIDS are variable and differing in severity. Most symptoms are invisible, which makes it difficult for others to understand the debilitating symptoms with which people with the illness must contend.