Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Source-TheIndianExpress

Context

A petition was filed by a Bangalore-based woman, stating to stop her Noida-based friend, who has been suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, since 2014.

The petition stated that his condition has deteriorated over the past eight years, making him “completely bed-bound & just able to walk a few steps inside the home.”

Disease

• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is also known as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis(ME/CFS), which is a serious & debilitating disease that affects the nervous system, immune system and the body’s production of energy.
• Experts have suggested that the term can trivialize the severity of the illness.
• The US institute of Medicine proposed the term systemic exertion intolerance disease(SEID).
• The causes of CFS are unknown. The potential triggers would include viral or bacterial infection, hormonal imbalances & genetic predispositions.
• There is no specific test for the disease, doctors have to rely on medical examinations, and blood & urine tests.
• ME/CFS can affect anyone, from children to adults of all ages.
• According to the CDC-Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, it's more common in women & people between 40 & 60 years old.

Symptoms

• The biggest telltale symptom is a significantly lowered ability to do activities that were performed before the illness.
• This condition is accompanied by at least 6 months of debilitating fatigue that is more severe than everyday feelings of tiredness.
• This fatigue is not relieved by sleep or rest and exercising usually makes the symptoms worse, according to the UK’s National Health Services(NHS).
• Other symptoms include trouble sleeping, difficulty in thinking, memory retention and concentration, dizziness/light headaches, muscle pain, joint ache, flu-like symptoms, tender lymph nodes and digestive issues.
• As per New York State Health Department, the most recognizable symptom is post-exertional malaise(PEM).
• Patients often described it as a crash in physical/mental energy following even minor activities like grocery shopping or brushing teeth.

Treatment

• There is no specific cure or approved treatment, till now.
• There are doctors' recommended ways to deal with the symptoms.
• To manage PEM, patients are recommended ‘pacing’, in which patients learn to balance rest & activity to prevent crashes caused by exertion.
• The CDC earlier recommended cognitive behaviour therapy(CBT) and graded exercise therapy(GET), which uses physical activity as a treatment for ME/CFS.
• After concern over the effectiveness and possibility of harm, the CDC stopped recommending these treatments.