| name: | Fatigue |
| also known as: | Tiredness; ICD 780.79 |
| also see: | Chronic Fatigue Syndrome; ICD |
| description: | Fatigue is a symptom, not a disease, although chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease. Fatigue is different than drowsiness. Causes of Fatigue may include: 1. Blood - anemia, cancer including the blood cancers 2. Endocrine - diabetes, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, Addison's disease 3. Infection - any bacterial or virus infection, such as the cold, flu, and pneumonia, as well as malaria, hepatitis, mono, endocarditis, HIV infection AIDS, Lyme disease, tuberculosis 4. Heart - coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure 5. Lung - chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, restrictive lung disease, sleep apnea syndrome 6. Female - menopause, pregnancy, PMS 7. Psychiatric - depression, anxiety, stress 8. Other - various medications, systemic lupus, cirrhosis of the liver, chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple sclerosis, migraine headache, overworking, crash diet, lack of sleep, hot humid weather, any cancer, as well as others |
| signs & symptoms: | Includes fatigue, and may include, depending upon the cause, weight loss, loss of appetite, paleness, fever, headache, anxiety, depression, stress, as well as signs of an infection such as fever, chills, cold, flu, sore throat, muscle aches and pain, and if from heart disease, can include chest pain, chest discomfort, shortness of breath, sweating, and skipped heart beat, and, if from diabetes can include urinary frequency, thirst, and finally, if from liver disease, jaundice. |
| diagnosis: | Based on signs, symptoms, history and exam, and diagnostic test, if needed, depending upon which direction the presentation points. |
| treatment: | Treatment varies depending upon the cause. Nonspecific fatigue is often treated with the herb ginseng. |
| prevention: | Varies depending upon the cause. |
| outcome: | Most cases of fatigue resolve if the underlying cause is treated. A few causes of fatigue can linger, such as cancer or chronic fatigue syndrome. |
skynetMD suggests the following:
| if: | If the person has fatigue and has chest pain, chest discomfort, shortness of breath, sweating, intermittent fever and intermittent chills, skipped heart beat |
| go to: | Go to the hospital for emergency care. |
| if: | If the person has fatigue and also has weight loss, loss of appetite, started a new medication, has signs of an infection, is pregnant, joint pain, hair loss, swollen glands, excessive thirst, excessive urination, yellow skin, swollen feet and ankles, or if the fatigue is unexplained and lasting more than several days |
| go to: | Go to the doctor. |
| if: | If the fatigue is mostly situational, and if the person is under the care of a doctor, change the lifestyle by resting more, budgeting time, eat better, exercise (actually helps with fatigue), decrease stress and |
| go to: | Go to the pharmacy for multivitamins, vitamin C and if recommended by the doctor, iron supplements. |
| if: | If the person has fatigue, and is under the care of a doctor, |
| go to: | Go to Also See or Description above and click on any highlighted subject of interest. |
Last updated 5/28/2008