Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
The Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is characterised by the sudden onset of an infectious-type illness, the subsequent chronic and debilitating fatigue, and postexertional malaise; many patients also have recurrent fevers, pharyngitis, adenopathy, myalgias, sleep disorders, and cognitive impairment. Up to 70% of patients with CFS complain of sleep disruption and unrefreshing sleep. This has now been objectively demonstrated through the use of Polysomnogram sleep studies that have demonstrated decreased sleep efficiency and intrusion of the wakeful state into deep sleep in a significant proportion of these patients. There is some evidence that patients with CFS have a deficit in slow Wave sleep called the alpha-delta phenomenon.