BMJ  2006;333 (16 September), doi:10.1136/bmj.333.7568.0-b

Severity of acute illness predicts post-infective fatigue syndrome

The severity of acute illness is a key risk factor for post-infective fatigue syndrome, rather than sex, age, or psychological factors. The syndrome represents a stereotyped outcome from several viral and non-viral infections. Hickie and colleagues (p 575) followed more than 250 patients with Epstein-Barr virus, Coxiella burnetii, or Ross River virus at regular intervals in a year from the time of acute infection, using self report, structured interview, and clinical assessment. A relatively uniform post-infective fatigue syndrome persisted for six months or more in a significant minority of patients.

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Post-infective and chronic fatigue syndromes precipitated by viral and non-viral pathogens: prospective cohort study

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