Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome

The illness was once known as "yuppie flu" and chronic Epstein-Barr syndrome because of its suspected link to that viral disease. But more than 20 years after chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome (CFIDS) entered the public eye, researchers learned the disorder is more than burnout among young urban professionals, and it's not virus-related.

Even though the cause is still unknown, CFIDS still carries a stigma, which frustrates people with the illness. For instance, a recent study debunked the idea that the disorder strikes mainly white, highly educated professionals in their 20s, says the Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome Association of America, an organization that provides advocacy, information, research, and encouragement to the CFIDS community.

The study and other research have found that CFIDS can affect people of every age, gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic group, according to the CDC. It affects women four times as often as it does men. More than a million Americans suffer from the illness.

Know the symptoms

Wherever CFIDS strikes, its major symptom is extreme, long-term fatigue that lasts at least six months, can't be linked to a medical or psychological disorder, isn't the result of prolonged exertion, and can't be relieved even with adequate sleep.

To make matters worse, the exhaustion occurs with four or more other symptoms, including impaired memory or concentration, sore throat, tender lymph nodes, unusual headaches, and joint pain with no swelling or redness.

For those with CFIDS, life is one long, tiring struggle from one task to the next, with the main goal being getting back to bed.

Treat the condition

Although there's no cure, health care professionals can treat symptoms with medication and nutritional supplements.

Pain can be treated, which then allows the person to sleep at night, and that restfulness can help in dealing with CFIDS, the Association says. Joining a support group or undergoing therapy to discuss the illness and its impact can also help.

Fortunately for sufferers, CFIDS is taken more seriously these days. And people with the syndrome find having a job with flexible hours, a sympathetic family and a good physician can aid in symptomatic—and emotional—treatment.

Testing has revealed evidence that the immune system remains activated for long periods of time in people with chronic fatigue syndrome. Many recent studies indicate that people with chronic fatigue syndrome have defects in the ability of cells in their bodies to make energy. Some studies indicate that certain genes are built differently, and that the activity of genes in white blood cells is different in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Many of these abnormalities seem to come and go, and are not permanent conditions. Furthermore, not all of the abnormalities affect every person with chronic fatigue syndrome.