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 About
Mary Shomon:
Mary Shomon is a patient advocate and bestselling author
of books that help you live well with overlooked, underdiagnosed
and complex health conditions. Find out more, and contact
her now. |
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How is Chronic Fatigue
Syndrome Diagnosed?
There is no official test to diagnose
CFS; rather, it's a “diagnosis of exclusion,” as other conditions that
could account for the symptoms are ruled out.
Doctors typically perform a comprehensive
medical history and physical exam. Blood and urine tests are performed
to help rule out any other possible causes of the illness, including lupus,
multiple sclerosis, Lyme disease, adrenal disorders, HIV or AIDS, thyroid
disease, rheumatoid arthritis, depression, cancer, and other conditions.
If the doctor can identify no cause
for the symptoms, and the official criteria are met, then a diagnosis
of CFS may be made.
Other tests used by some practitioners
for diagnosis include erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), IgM/IgG Coxsackie
virus B titer, IgM/IgG HHV-6 titer, IgM/IgG chlamydia pneumoniae titer,
Natural Killer (NK) cell levels.
A complete guide to diagnostic
factors, and how to get a timely diagnosis is featured in the book Living
Well With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia.
Next: How is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Treated?
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All Information © 2004, Mary J. Shomon. All rights reserved.
Note: This site does not provide medical advice. The contents are for
informational purposes only, and are not intended to be a substitute for
professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice
of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions
you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional
medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you read here.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.
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