Causes of Chronic Fatigue Syndome

No one knows for sure what causes chronic fatigue syndome. For more than 100 years, doctors have reported seeing illnesses like chronic fatigue syndome. Some causes of chronic fatigue syndome offered over the years by health experts include anemia (low iron in the blood); hypoglycemia (low blood sugar); environmental allergies; and candidiasis (yeast infection) in the entire body.

Sometimes chronic fatigue syndome develops on its own, for no reason. But, most persons with chronic fatigue syndome say that it started after having a cold, bronchitis, hepatitis, or an intestinal virus. It can also follow a bout of infectious mononucleosis (mono), the "kissing disease" that drains the energy of many teenagers and young adults. Some persons with chronic fatigue syndome say their illness began after a time of extreme stress, such as the loss of a loved one or undergoing major surgery.

It can be hard to figure out if a person has chronic fatigue syndome. This is because many illnesses have extreme fatigue as a symptom and many treatments, such as chemotherapy, can cause extreme fatigue.