Signs and symptoms
... People with chronic fatigue syndrome exhibit signs and symptoms similar to those of most common viral infections. Unlike flu (influenza) symptoms, which usually subside in a few days or weeks, the sig...

Causes
... Doctors don''t know the cause of chronic fatigue syndrome. Several possible causes have been proposed, including: Iron deficiency anemia Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) History of allergies Virus infec...

Risk factors
... Women are diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome two to four times as often as men are, but sex isn''t a proven risk factor for the condition. Because the cause of the condition is unknown, doctors h...

When to seek medical advice
... Fatigue can be a symptom of many illnesses, such as infections or psychological disorders. In general, see your doctor if you have persistent or excessive fatigue. Severe fatigue that prevents you fro...

Screening and diagnosis
... A diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome is based on exclusion. This means that before arriving at a diagnosis, a doctor has ruled out any other disease or condition that may be causing your fatigue an...