Possible Causes of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

What are some possible causes of chronic fatigue syndrome?

Chronic fatigue syndrome is rather poorly understood at this point in time. That is, the name "chronic fatigue syndrome", or CFS, merely refers to a grouping of symptoms for which we do not know the cause, nor do we understand the mechanisms by which it occurs.

Authorities on the condition have theories on its origin that classify the condition in terms of the central nervous system, metabolism, infectious disease (or post-infectious disease), cardiovascular system, immune system, and as a psychiatric disorder.

Currently, the pathogenesis of chronic fatigue syndrome is unknown. Several aspects of the disease and possible causes of chronic fatigue have been examined, including oxidative stress, genetic predisposition, infection by viruses and pathogenic bacteria, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis abnormalities, immune dysfunction, as well and mental and psychosocial factors.

All ethnic and racial groups seem to be susceptible to the disease, and lower income groups are slightly more likely to develop CFS. CFS is far more common in women than men, and is reported to occur most frequently in people aged 40 to 59 - it is quite rare for it to be found in children and adolescents.

Are there hereditary causes of chronic fatigue syndrome? It is believed that there may be a genetic cause of CFS that has not yet been discovered. Blood relatives of individuals with CFS appear to be more predisposed to the condition, suggesting that it is heritable.

There is no evidence that CFS is contagious, but it is often seen in members of the same family. Further research is necessary to determine whether this is due to a genetic link or the spread of pathogens between individuals with close contact. Or, it could perhaps be due to similar dietary and lifestyle habits within the same family.

A few studies have been conducted of which the aim was to clarify risk factors for developing CFS. Recently, a systematic review evaluated various demographic, medical, psychological, social, and environmental factors to predict one's risk of developing CFS (or myalgic encephalomyelitis - ME) and found that "none of the identified factors appear suitable for the timely identification of patients at risk of developing CFS / ME within clinical practice" (July 2008).

So, then, little headway seems to have been made in ascertaining the causes of chronic fatigue syndrome.

CFS is correlated with a number of diseases. Co-morbid fibromyalgia is fairly common, and occurs in a large percentage of CFS patients between onset and the second year; a number of researchers believe the conditions to be related.

Many CFS sufferers also experience symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, temporomandibular joint pain, headaches and migraines, and other forms of myalgia. Furthermore, CFS / ME patients have a significantly higher rate of mood disorders than the general population, and are more likely to experience conditions of pelvic pain.

Though we do not understand the cause or pathophysiology of CFS / ME, much literature is devoted to making this discovery. As connections are made between the wealth of information we already possess and findings that have not yet been discovered, the picture of what causes chronic fatigue syndrome will become clearer.

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