Chronic fatigue syndrome was defined in 1988 by the American Centres for Disease Control (CDC). Its main symptom is fatigue lasting for over 6 months. It is accompanied by other symptoms such as sore throat, tenderness of lymph nodes, muscular and articular pain, headache, sleep disturbances, discomfort after physical activity as well as memory and concentration disorders. CFS is more often observed in female patients aged 20-50 from middle and upper socio-economic class. The literature on the occurrence of CFS in children has been rather sparse so far while the aetiology of the disease also has not been fully explained yet. The role of virus infections, humoral and cell-mediated immunity disorders, humoral and neurotransmitters disorders is considered in the aetiology of the disease. Consequently, no effective treatment of CFS is presently available.

Keywords: treatment, etiopathogenesis, CDC criteria, chronic fatigue syndrome