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What Is Chronic Fatigue?
Chronic fatigue, classified as a syndrome, encompasses a range of debilitating symptoms without a clear underlying cause. These symptoms include extreme fatigue when doing normal tasks that persists even after resting, insomnia, pain, dizziness, difficulty thinking and concentrating, muscular or joint pain, sore throat and/or mood swings.
Why Does It Occur?
While Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) remains a complex and challenging condition to diagnose, research suggests its onset in predisposed individuals may be influenced by one or more triggering factors.
Genetic predisposition and various triggering factors contribute to the onset of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). These factors include genetic profiles, viral infections such as Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), recurrent exposure to toxins, environmental stressors, and psychological factors.
2) Triggering factors: (2/3)
One out of three cases of diagnosed CFS are going through or have gone through an infection. The virus that is most frequently associated with CFS is the Epstein-Barr virusHowever, other viruses such as the cytomegalovirus, the flu, hepatitis C, enteroviruses or the parvovirus can also be involved in the development of the disease.
Some of these viruses never disappear from the organism completely, they remain latent in nerve cells or immune cells, eventually altering their correct functioning.
Recurrent contact with toxins such as insecticides or cleaning products is another factor that may lead to CFS. These chemicals can sensitise neurons and harm them over time.
Environmental factors, constant physical or psychological stress as well as traumatic shock may as well trigger CFS.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & EBV
Fig. 1: For each patient, the role of EBV in CFS should be determined by a health professional according to the clinic and the laboratory findings.
There is a strong correlation between the Epstein-Barr virus infection and the onset / development of CFS.
In a 2013 study, it was observed that students aged 18 that had gone through an episode of infectious mononucleosis presented with abnormal fatigue even 6 months after the acute infection. Conversely, EBV has been detected in latent form in people suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome.
CFS has also been related to an acquired immunodeficiency with decreased function of certain immune cells, particularly of Natural Killer cells, which are crucial for antiviral defence. This lowering of defences favours EBV reactivation.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Treatment Approach And Micro-immunotherapy
Recommendations must be made on the basis of each patient’s specific symptoms and risk factors involved. Individualised treatment plans for chronic fatigue syndrome focus on minimising risk factors and gradually improving exertion tolerance.
In this context, micro-immunotherapy is aimed at regulating the immune response so it can cope with disrupting factors effectively, readjusting the immune dysregulation associated with infections (see EBV), uncontrolled inflammation, stress and/or mitochondrial dysfunction.
Through sequential administration of low doses of immune mediators, micro-immunotherapy provides the body with the necessary endogenous keys to cope with immune challenges and restore balance. It can be integrated into personalised treatment plans to address the immune imbalances involved in chronic fatigue syndrome, thus contributing to sustainably improving the patient’s condition.
Are you a patient? Improve your health with micro-immunotherapy
Check out our list of health professionals trained in micro-immunotherapy and get your personal consultation, or visit one of the clinics offering personalised, integrated treatments including micro-immunotherapy as an immunoregulatory approach.
- Holmes, G. P. et al. Chronic fatigue syndrome: A working case definition. Ann. Intern. Med. 108, 387–389 (1988).
- Klimas, N. G., Salvato, F. R., Morgan, R. & Fletcher, M. A. Immunologic abnormalities in chronic fatigue syndrome. J Clin Microbiol 28, 1403–1410 (1990).
- Abrutyn, S. & Mueller, A. S. A Prospective Study of Infectious Mononucleosis in College Students. 79, 211–227 (2015).
- Prins JB, van der Meer JW, Bleijenberg G. Chronic fatigue syndrome. Lancet. 2006 Jan 28;367(9507):346-55.
- Goertzel BN, Pennachin C, Coelho LS, Gurbaxani B, Maloney EM, Jones JF. Combination of single nucleotide polymorphisms in neuroendocrine effector and receptor genes predict chronic fatigue syndrome. Pharmacogenomics 2006;7:475–83.
- Wyller VB. The chronic fatigue syndrome-an update. Acta Neurol Scand Suppl. 2007;187:7-14.
- Klimas NG, Koneru AO. Chronic fatigue syndrome: inflammation, immune function, and neuroendocrine interactions. Curr Rheumatol Rep. 2007 Dec;9(6):482-7.