Description
This article is from the Chronic Fatigue
Syndrome (CFS) FAQ, by cfs-news@cais.com (Roger Burns) with
numerous contributions by others.
1.02 What causes CFS?
The cause of the illness is not yet known. Current theories are looking at
the possibilities of neuroendocrine dysfunction, viruses,
environmental toxins, genetic predisposition, or a combination of
these. For a time it was thought that Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), the
cause of mononucleosis, might cause CFS but recent research has
discounted this idea. The illness seems to prompt a chronic immune
reaction in the body, however it is not clear that this is in response
to any actual infection -- this may only be a dysfunction of the
immune system itself.
A recent concept promulgated by Prof. Mark Demitrack is that CFS is a
generalized condition which may have any of several causes (in the
same way that the condition called high blood pressure is not caused
by any one single factor). It *is* known that stressors, physical or
emotional, seems to make CFS worse.
Some current research continues to investigate possible viral causes
including HHV-6, other herpes viruses, enteroviruses, and
retroviruses. Additionally, co-factors (such as genetic
predisposition, stress, environment, gender, age, and prior illness)
appear to play an important role in the development and course of the
illness.
Many medical observers have noted that CFS seems often to be
"triggered" by some stressful event, but in all likelihood the
condition was latent beforehand. Some people will appear to get CFS
following a viral infection, or a head injury, or surgery, excessive
use of antibiotics, or some other traumatic event. Yet it's unlikely
that these events on their own could be a primary cause.
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