The following symptoms and complaints may indicate chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS; systemic exertion intolerance disorder (SEID)):
Leading symptoms
These symptoms appear suddenly in a previously active person:
- Fatigue
- Early exhaustibility
- Concentration problems
- Fatigue
Associated symptoms
- Allergies (55%)
- Abdominal pain (abdominal pain) (40%)
- Thoracic pain (chest pain) (5%)
- Pressure painful lymph nodes (80%)
- Exanthema (skin rash) (10%)
- Arthralgia (joint pain) (75%)
- Weight loss (20%)
- Weight gain (5%)
- Sore throat (85%)
- Cephalgia (headache) (in 90% of patients).
- Moderate fever (75%)
- Myalgia (muscle pain) (80%)
- Night sweats (5%)
- Mental problems (65%)
- Insomnia (sleep disorders) (70%)
- Tachycardia (heartbeat too fast: > 100 beats per minute) (10%).
Warning signs (red flags) that raise doubts about the diagnosis of CFS
- Signs of:
- Arthritides (inflammatory joint diseases) and connective tissue diseases.
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Abnormal weight loss
- Focal neurological deficits
- Significant lymphadenopathy (lymph node enlargement).
- Sleep apnea – pauses in breathing during sleep due to obstruction of the airway.
In addition, the following diseases must be excluded:
- Bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness).
- Dementia – loss of formerly acquired intellectual skills.
- Eating disorder
- Major depression (severe depression)
- Schizophrenia – belongs to the group of psychoses.
- Alcohol and substance abuse
