In contrast to tumour fatigue, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a distinct clinical entity. The “International Classification of Diseases” (ICD-10) lists it under diagnosis code G93.3: chronic fatigue syndrome. The ICD-10 is a directory of scientifically recognised diseases and diagnoses and is valid worldwide. In Germany, it is published by the Federal Ministry of Health.
The ICD-10 classifies the condition among the diseases of the nervous system, specifically in the section “Other disorders of the brain”. This underlines that chronic fatigue syndrome is a physical illness and not, as many still wrongly believe, a matter of “purely psychological” or “imaginary” fatigue symptoms.
There appears to be a significant connection between CFS and COVID fatigue, as recorded with increased frequency after recovery from infection with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus (Long COVID, post-COVID syndrome).
Chronic fatigue syndrome is a severe, usually extremely distressing disease of the nervous system or brain that is internationally recognised as an organic disease.
Symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome typically begins suddenly. The complaints persist for at least six months without any discernible improvement.
The leading symptom of the disease is extreme mental and physical exhaustion, weakness and weariness, as with all other fatigue syndromes. (The term fatigue comes from French and means “tiredness”, “weariness”, “debility”.)
Unlike tumour fatigue, for example, CFS is, however, accompanied by typical secondary criteria. These include sore throat, increased tenderness of the cervical and axillary lymph nodes, joint pain, headache and impaired concentration and short-term memory. Also typical is a worsening of the condition lasting at least 24 hours after exertion.
The complaints of chronic fatigue syndrome can be permanent or occur in episodes.
CFS symptoms
- Sudden onset
- Extreme tiredness and lack of strength
- Lack of drive
- Mental exhaustion
- Concentration problems
- Problems with short-term memory
- Sore throat
- Tender cervical lymph nodes
- Tender axillary lymph nodes
- Pain in the joints
- Headache
- Worsening for at least 24 hours after exertion
As a consequence
- Low mood
- Depressive moods
- Feeling of helplessness
- Inactivity
- Avoidance of exertion
Chronic fatigue syndrome: the difficulty of diagnosis
In medicine, there have been reports for more than 100 years of pathological disorders that would nowadays be classified as chronic fatigue syndrome. Even today, diagnosis is not easy. If CFS is suspected, the doctor must rule out a number of other diseases that can also cause extreme tiredness and weakness.
Degrees of severity of chronic fatigue
Various degrees of severity of chronic fatigue syndrome are distinguished. From severity grade VI (according to Bell), a person is decisively restricted in their professional and private activities. At grades IX and X, a person is bedridden and unable to care for themselves.
Chronic fatigue syndrome is an extremely distressing illness and can lead to severe disability.
Many people affected by CFS
Depending on which criteria are chosen for the diagnosis, somewhat different figures are obtained for how many people are affected. Cautious estimates assume that in Germany alone well over 300,000 people suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome. There are probably far more.
- The extreme exhaustion most frequently begins between the early twenties and the mid-forties.
- Women fall ill about twice as often as men.
- 25% of people diagnosed with CFS are severely affected: they are housebound and often even bedridden.
Important: intracellular glutathione
In exhaustion-related diseases, an intracellular glutathione deficiency is often an important factor in their development. In some cases, the severity of the clinical pictures is related to how markedly the intracellular glutathione levels are reduced. Glutathione cell therapy can then offer valuable therapeutic approaches.