CFS is characterized by overwhelming fatigue and flu like symptoms that can last for years; however, it is not contagious, degenerative, or fatal. CFS sufferer’s fatigue does not result from exertion; rest and medications do not alleviate the conditions, the symptoms actually worsen over time. Most people do recuperate, although some sufferers experience different phases of symptoms. In extreme cases, patients are bedridden and find even light tasks nearly impossible. Although most patients report that fatigue plagues them, other symptoms including mental impairment and the inability to concentrate also are debilitating.
The illness still is not strictly defined, and experts have found few effective measures to gauge a patient's recovery; thus, doctors find it difficult to determine the long-term outlook of CFS. Some studies reveal that children generally have a better prognosis than adults and recover after one to four years in as many as 95 percent of cases. However, rigorous studies of CFS in children have not been done.
