Post-viral fatigue syndrome (PVFS) is a condition or conditions characterized by fatigue following a viral

Virus

A virus is a small infectious agent that can replicate only inside the living cells of organisms. Viruses infect all types of organisms, from animals and plants to bacteria and archaea...

 infection

Infection

An infection is the colonization of a host organism by parasite species. Infecting parasites seek to use the host's resources to reproduce, often resulting in disease...

. The term is not widely used, but the state of prolonged or severe fatigue after illness is not uncommon. Some people experience fatigue and related symptoms for months or years following a severe viral infection.

Classification

In the WHO

Who

Who may refer to:* Who , an English-language pronoun* who , a Unix command* Who?, one of the Five Ws in journalism- Art and entertainment :* Who? , a 1958 novel by Algis Budrys...

's ICD-10

ICD-10

The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision is a medical classification list for the coding of diseases, signs and symptoms, abnormal findings, complaints, social circumstances, and external causes of injury or diseases, as maintained by the...

, PVFS is listed as sub-category at G93.3 under category G93 'other disorders of the brain'. Listed under PVFS is benign myalgic encephalomyelitis. The term chronic fatigue syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is the most common name used to designate a significantly debilitating medical disorder or group of disorders generally defined by persistent fatigue accompanied by other specific symptoms for a minimum of six months, not due to ongoing exertion, not substantially...

 (CFS) is also direct to sub-category G93.3 in the tabular list and alphabetic index of the ICD-10.

Post-viral syndromes may also include: post-polio syndrome

Post-polio syndrome

Post-polio syndrome is a condition that affects approximately 25–50% of people who have previously contracted poliomyelitis—a viral infection of the nervous system—after the initial infection. Typically the symptoms appear 15–30 years after recovery from the original paralytic attack, at an age of...

 and possibly chronic mononucleosis

Infectious mononucleosis

Infectious mononucleosis is an infectious, widespread viral...

 or other severe chronic viral infections.

Signs and symptoms

The main symptoms of the syndrome are disabling fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, neurocognitive difficulties and mood disturbance. Other symptoms experienced by some patients are those of nausea

Nausea

Nausea , is a sensation of unease and discomfort in the upper stomach with an involuntary urge to vomit. It often, but not always, precedes vomiting...

, dizziness

Dizziness

Dizziness refers to an impairment in spatial perception and stability. The term is somewhat imprecise. It can be used to mean vertigo, presyncope, disequilibrium, or a non-specific feeling such as giddiness or foolishness....

, loss of appetite and patients may also present with unrefreshing sleep. Patients with this illness may explain that they experience good and bad days with their symptoms and their activity may range greatly from a bad to a good day. Other conditions must be ruled out, including (but not limited to) diabetes, anaemia and kidney/liver problems.

Diagnosis

For post-viral fatigue syndrome to be completely diagnosed, the patient must have suffered symptoms for six months at least, although an earlier diagnosis may be made and confirmed later on. Blood samples must be taken and tested to rule out other conditions which may be causing such symptoms and other tests may be carried out to ensure that the diagnosis is accurate. There is no definite cure for post-viral fatigue syndrome, but the symptoms can be relieved by using an over-the-counter analgesic medication for musculoskeletal pain and medication can be prescribed if depression becomes apparent. However, it seems that the best relief for post-viral fatigue is rest and not overdoing activities.

Prognosis

Though debilitating, post-viral fatigue syndrome does improve over time. Some patients may experience symptoms for a few months, whereas others may have had symptoms for many years. Patients can help themselves by not overworking on the days that they feel good, but trying to maintain a consistent routine every day, gradually building up exercise and activity is beneficial.

Risk factors

Some research indicates that the chance of developing a post-viral fatigue syndrome is more strongly related to the severity of the infection rather than on demographic, psychological or microbiological characteristics. Other research indicates the contrary and that doctor behaviour and patient attitudes were the best predictors.