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Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a complex condition characterized by profound fatigue that is not improved by bed rest and may be made worse by physical or mental activity. To be diagnosed with CFS, a person must have chronic fatigue for more than six months and at least four other symptoms of CFS (such as sore throat, tender lymph nodes, muscle pain, and insomnia). There is no cure for this condition; treatment options often include lifestyle changes, medications to relieve symptoms, and alternative therapies.
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a debilitating and complex condition that involves multiple body systems. Chronic fatigue syndrome is characterized by profound fatigue that is not improved by bed rest and may be made worse by physical or mental activity. People with chronic fatigue syndrome usually function at substantially lower levels of activity. Having chronic fatigue syndrome means more than just getting tired; the fatigue with chronic fatigue syndrome is extreme and overwhelming.
When referring to chronic fatigue syndrome, patients and patient advocates often prefer to call the condition chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome (CFIDS) to convey the complexity of the illness and its profound impact on people's lives. A 2003 study group addressed the name -- chronic fatigue syndrome -- which they believed might trivialize the illness. The report stated that they did not want to change the name without adequate scientific justification because that would lead to confusion and would undermine the progress that had been made on this condition.