Is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Contagious?

Some people may ask, "Is chronic fatigue syndrome contagious?" Although researchers do not know the cause of chronic fatigue syndrome, there is no evidence to support the idea that chronic fatigue syndrome is contagious.

 

Question

 

Answer

Although researchers do not know the cause of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), there is no evidence to support that chronic fatigue syndrome is contagious.
 

Understanding Contagious Diseases

Contagious diseases typically occur in well-defined clusters, otherwise known as outbreaks or epidemics. While early studies of fatiguing illness have been cited as evidence that chronic fatigue syndrome is contagious, these studies were not rigorously documented and patients were not defined as CFS patients. Therefore, these studies cannot be considered as proof that chronic fatigue syndrome is contagious.
 
Contagious diseases are typically associated with intravenous drug use, exposure to animals, occupational or travel history, or sexual behavior. However, none of these behaviors have been associated with chronic fatigue syndrome.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD