ALWAYS FATIGUED? It may be a chronic infection!
While there are many causes of chronic fatigue, the immune system is one system that can easily be overlooked. Often during acute illness, individuals feel the effects of the immune system battling the infectious invader: lethargy, fever, headache, cough, sore throat, body aches, runny nose, + more. However, these symptoms should resolve after the clearance of the virus, bacteria or other microbe, ending the acute infection, typically within 1-2 weeks.
In some circumstances, the infection may not completely resolve with the acute immune response and becomes latent in the body. In a latent state, there is potential for the infection to reactivate later in life, often triggered (and re-triggered) by stress, another illness or hormonal dysfunction. During periods of reactivation or chronic infections, chronic fatigue is a common symptom, which presents as both mental and physical fatigue.
Some examples of chronic infections include long COVID-19, chronic Epstein-Barr, or chronic Lyme disease. Shingles, another familiar illness, is another example of a dormant virus becoming reactivated later on in life. Common examples of chronic infection with fungi include chronic candidiasis and mold illness.
If you believe that a chronic infection may be contributing to persistent fatigue, blood work can be ordered to determine which infectious agents are the cause of your symptoms and help determine if your immune system is compromised.
Chronic fatigue syndrome can be a single or multi-organ issue, with the immune system being an important piece of the puzzle. Addressing the root cause of your chronic fatigue involves identifying the culprit and treating the specific virus, bacteria or fungi to help your immune system finally overcome the infection, allowing you to feel like yourself again.
