Neurasthenia or chronic fatigue syndrome manifests as crippling fatigue sometimes accompanied by other symptoms. There is no specific treatment for neurasthenia. Medication and non-medication management provide relief for the sick.

Definition

Neurasthenia or nervous fatigue is the old name for chronic fatigue syndrome. This has also been called post-viral fatigue syndrome, chronic mononucleosis, myalgic encephalomyelitis…

Chronic fatigue syndrome refers to persistent physical exhaustion associated with diffuse pain, sleep disturbances, neurocognitive and autonomic disorders. It is a very debilitating disease. 

Causes 

The exact causes of chronic fatigue syndrome, formerly called neurasthenia, are not known. Many assumptions have been made. It seems that this syndrome is the result of the combination of several factors: psychological, infectious, environmental, hormonal imbalances, imbalances of the immune system, inappropriate reaction to stress… This syndrome often appears after a bacterial or viral infection. 

Diagnostic 

The diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome is a diagnosis of exclusion (by elimination). When the symptoms, and in particular chronic fatigue, are not explained by other causes, the doctor may conclude that there is a chronic fatigue syndrome. To rule out possible other causes, blood tests, hormone level measurements and a psychological interview are carried out (the latter allowing to see if it is not a question of depression, most of the inexplicable fatigue was due to depression.

It is only when all other causes could be excluded that the diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome can be made if the person has had chronic fatigue for more than 6 months and 4 of the following criteria: short-term memory loss or difficulty concentration, sore throat, ganglia pain in the neck or armpits, muscle pain, joint pain without redness or swelling, headache of unusual severity and characteristics, non-restful sleep, discomfort lasting more than 24 hours after following an exercise or an effort (Fukuda criteria). 

The people concerned 

Chronic fatigue syndrome is not a rare disease. It would affect 1 in 600 to 200 in 20 people. It is twice as common in women as in men, and rather affects young adults between the ages of 40 and XNUMX. 

Risk factors 

Viral or bacterial infections may play a role in the appearance of chronic fatigue syndrome: influenza, herpes, mononucleosis, brucellosis, etc.

Exposure to certain pesticides or insecticides could also play a role in its appearance.

An unusual and prolonged state of fatigue 

Chronic fatigue syndrome formerly called neurasthenia is characterized by a persistent state of fatigue that does not give way with rest. 

Unusual fatigue associated with neurological symptoms

Neuro-cognitive and neuro-vegetative disorders are present in particular: short-term memory loss and difficulty concentrating, dizziness when going from standing to lying down, sometimes transit disorders and / or urinary disorders, 

Other symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome: 

• Severe headaches 
• Muscle pain
• Joint pain 
• Sore throat 
• Swollen glands in the armpits and neck 
• A worsening of fatigue and other symptoms after exertion, whether physical or intellectual

There is no specific treatment that can cure the disease. A combination of drugs and non-drug treatments provides significant relief of symptoms. 

Low-dose antidepressants are prescribed to affect the humeirvet quality of sleep. In case of joint or muscle pain, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used.

To fight against muscle wasting (due to physical inactivity), the treatment consists of exercise re-training sessions.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been shown to improve the well-being of people with chronic fatigue syndrome.

It is not possible to act in prevention because the causes of this disease have not yet been determined.