Chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome
Chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome (CFIDS)—also known as chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic Epstein-Barr virus [EBV], benign myalgic encephalomyelitis, and “Yuppie flu”— is typically marked by debilitating fatigue, neurologic abnormalities, and persistent symptoms that suggest chronic mononucleosis. It commonly occurs in adults younger than age 45, and its incidence is highest in women.
Causes
Although the cause of CFIDS is unknown, researchers suspect that it may be found in human herpesvirus 6 or in other herpesviruses, enteroviruses, or retroviruses. Rising levels of antibodies to EBV, once thought to implicate EBV infection as the cause of CFIDS, are now considered a result of this disease.
CFIDS may be associated with a reaction to viral illness that’s complicated by dysfunctional immune response and by other factors that may include sex, age, genetic disposition, prior illness, stress, and environment.