Chronic fatigue syndrome Health Article

Expectations (prognosis)

The long-term outlook for patients with CFS is variable and difficult to predict at the initial onset. Some patients have been reported to completely recover after six months to a year. Others may take longer for a complete recovery.

Some patients report never returning to their pre-illness state. Most studies report that patients treated in an extensive rehabilitation program have a better prognosis of improving significantly than those patients who don't seek treatment.

Complications

• Social isolation caused by fatigue
• Lifestyle restrictions (some people are so fatigued that they are essentially disabled during the course of the illness)
• Depression (related both to symptoms and lack of diagnosis)
• Side effects and adverse reactions to medication treatments

Calling your health care provider

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you experience persistent, severe fatigue, with or without other symptoms of this disorder. Other more serious disorders can cause similar symptoms and should be ruled out.

See also:

Chronic fatigue syndrome - resources

References

Harris ED, Budd RC, Genovese MC, Firestein GS, Sargent JS, Sledge CB. Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology. 7th ed. St. Louis, Mo: WB Saunders; 2005:525.

Rakel P, ed. Conn’s Current Therapy 2006. 58th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 2006: 138-141.