Cause of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

The cause of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is not yet known. Scientists believe that there may be several possible causes of CFS. These possible causes of chronic fatigue syndrome include such things as infection, an impaired immune system, an impaired nervous system, and nutritional deficiency. While at one time researchers believed that the cause of chronic fatigue syndrome could be linked to a single type of virus, that is no longer thought to be the case.

 

Cause of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: An Introduction

The cause of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) remains unknown, despite a vigorous search by chronic fatigue syndrome research scientists. However, researchers believe that there may be several possible causes of chronic fatigue syndrome, which may include:
 
  • Infection
  • Impaired immune system
  • Impaired nervous system
  • Nutritional deficiency.
     

Cause of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Infection

Chronic fatigue syndrome is similar to chronic mononucleosis (mono), which is why researchers originally believed that a virus infection was the cause of CFS. However, researchers have since discovered that chronic fatigue syndrome cannot be caused exclusively by a single type of virus.
 

Cause of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Impaired Immune System

Researchers have found that:
 
  • At this point, there are no immune disorders that are linked to all chronic fatigue syndrome patients
  • There are no autoimmune diseases linked to all chronic fatigue syndrome patients
  • There are no allergies linked to all chronic fatigue syndrome patients.
     

Cause of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Impaired Nervous System

Multiple studies have suggested that the central nervous system may have an important role in chronic fatigue syndrome. However, additional research is needed to prove that the nervous system is a cause of chronic fatigue syndrome.
 
(Cause of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD