While chronic fatigue syndrome is approximately four times more common in women than men, women and men of every age and ethnicity, including adolescents, develop chronic fatigue syndrome.

By learning more about chronic fatigue syndrome and sharing it with your colleagues, you can help the more than one million Americans who suffer from this debilitating condition, some of whom may be seeking your care.

The annual economic impact of chronic fatigue syndrome in the United States is estimated to be $9.1 billion in lost productivity, not including medical costs or disability payments.

Twenty-five percent of people with chronic fatigue syndrome are unemployed or on disability.

Unrelenting exhaustion not relieved by rest. Poor concentration. Muscle and joint pain. Headaches. Flu-like symptoms. Alone these symptoms may be troublesome. But in combination, they could signal something much more serious.

Although the cause of chronic fatigue syndrome is not yet fully understood, you can help manage its debilitating symptoms. An expanding body of medical research is revealing more about the complexities of this condition.

Page last modified on May 25, 2006