Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Diagnosis Criteria

To meet the criteria, patients must have:
A. Fatigue

Severe, unexplained fatigue that is not relieved by rest, can cause disability, and has an identifiable onset (i.e., not lifelong fatigue). It must be persistent or relapsing fatigue that lasts for at least six or more consecutive months.

B. Four or more of the following symptoms:

•impaired memory or concentration problems
•tender cervical or auxillary lymph nodes in neck region (note: they do not have to be swollen, just tender; this can be a symptom for people with fibromyalgia who have tenderness in these areas as well)
•sore throat (may not show signs of infection)
•muscle pain
•multi-joint pain (not arthritis)
•new onset headaches (tension-type or migraine)
•unrefreshing sleep (wake up in the morning feeling unrested)
•post-exertional malaise (fatigue, pain and flu-like symptoms after exercise