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What Causes Constant Chronic Fatigue?
Question: I have had extreme exhaustion or fatigue for weeks. I can barely keep awake during the day even drinking coffee. I am not sleeping well either. Is there anything I need to do?
Brief Answer:
investigation is required
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
chronic fatigue can be caused by various disorders. I'll make a list with some commonly encountered ones.
- hypothyroidism: measuring serum TSH is enough for the diagnosis.
- anemia: a full blood count is required.
- sleep-apnea syndrome: clues to suspect this syndrome include excessive sleepiness even right after getting up from bed, snoring, being obese and having heart disease and/or hypertension. A sleep-study can diagnose this condition. You should talk with an ENT specialist and a pulmonologist first.
- 'chronic' infections like tuberculosis and others: a careful medical history for other complaints and lab tests may provide clues. Inflammatory markers can be very helpful (CRP for example).
- autoimmune disorders: the symptoms will guide the investigation strategy. A general test that is usually high in autoimmune disorders (and thus raises suspicion for such disorders) is ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate).
- uncontrolled diabetes and other causes of dehydration: blood glucose will help to diagnose diabetes. Dehydration is mostly a clinical diagnosis.
- psychological disorders like depression: the diagnosis is suspected when all other diagnoses have been excluded and the patient reports inability to feel XXXXXXX thoughts of committing suicide, sleeping disorders, being moody all day, etc.
So in conclusion, these symptoms require investigation. I've suggested tests for the most common ones.
I hope it helps!
Kind Regards!
investigation is required
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
chronic fatigue can be caused by various disorders. I'll make a list with some commonly encountered ones.
- hypothyroidism: measuring serum TSH is enough for the diagnosis.
- anemia: a full blood count is required.
- sleep-apnea syndrome: clues to suspect this syndrome include excessive sleepiness even right after getting up from bed, snoring, being obese and having heart disease and/or hypertension. A sleep-study can diagnose this condition. You should talk with an ENT specialist and a pulmonologist first.
- 'chronic' infections like tuberculosis and others: a careful medical history for other complaints and lab tests may provide clues. Inflammatory markers can be very helpful (CRP for example).
- autoimmune disorders: the symptoms will guide the investigation strategy. A general test that is usually high in autoimmune disorders (and thus raises suspicion for such disorders) is ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate).
- uncontrolled diabetes and other causes of dehydration: blood glucose will help to diagnose diabetes. Dehydration is mostly a clinical diagnosis.
- psychological disorders like depression: the diagnosis is suspected when all other diagnoses have been excluded and the patient reports inability to feel XXXXXXX thoughts of committing suicide, sleeping disorders, being moody all day, etc.
So in conclusion, these symptoms require investigation. I've suggested tests for the most common ones.
I hope it helps!
Kind Regards!
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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