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Symptom: Fatigue
- Introduction: Fatigue
- Causes (1283 conditions)
- Causes of Types
- Diagnosis Checklist (32 listings)
- Misdiagnosis
- Home Diagnostic Testing
- Diagnostic Guides (Online)
- Diagnostic tests (48 listings)
- Multiple Symptom Checker
- Drug causes (561 listings)
- Drug interaction causes (358 listings)
- Videos
- Definitions
- Choose Doctor
- Classifications
- News (117 listings)
- Stories from Users
Introduction: Fatigue
Fatigue means lacking energy or strength and is a very common symptom. However, the term in common usage may mean many things, including drowsiness (sleepiness), lethargy, tiredness, malaise, listlessness, or weakness (including muscular weakness). Sometimes it is hard to know exactly whether you are tired, weak, fatigued, or have other symptoms. Nevertheless, any type of fatigue can indicate a serious medical condition and needs prompt medical investigation.
» Review Causes of Fatigue: full list
Causes of Fatigue:
The following medical conditions are some of the possible
causes of Fatigue.
There are likely to be other possible causes, so ask your doctor
about your symptoms.
- Other types of fatigue-like symptoms:
- Drowsiness - are you actually fatigued or just short of sleep?
- Weakness - are you fatigued or physically or muscularly weak?
- Muscle weakness
- Malaise
- Listlessness
- Tiredness
- Sleepiness
- Overexertion
- Anxiety
- Pregnancy
- Infections
- Illness
- Flu
- Mononucleosis
- Hepatitis
- Viral infection
- Chronic infection
- Urinary tract infection
- Lung infection
- Abdominal infection (see Abdominal symptoms)
- Tooth abscess
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Endocarditis
- Almost any infectious disease may cause fatigue
- Other diseases that may cause fatigue include:
- Anemia - see the types of anemia and causes of anemia
- Post-viral syndrome
- Addison's disease
- Hypothyroidism
See full list of 1283 causes of Fatigue
» Review Causes of Fatigue: full list
Causes of Types of Fatigue:
Review the causes of these more specific types of Fatigue:
- Drowsiness (474 causes)
- Malaise (253 causes)
- Lethargy (239 causes)
- Chronic fatigue syndrome (1 cause)
- Severe fatigue (4 causes)
- Extreme fatigue (8 causes)
- Lack of energy (23 causes)
- Yawning Excessively (20 causes)
- Sedative effect
- Yawning (15 causes)
- Daytime drowsiness (2 causes)
- Daytime tiredness (1 cause)
- General discomfort (3 causes)
- Feeling under the weather (9 causes)
See full list of 31 types for Fatigue
Fatigue: Multiple Symptom Checker
Listed below are some combinations of symptoms associated with Fatigue, as listed in our database. Visit the Multiple Symptoms Checker, to add and remove symptoms and research your condition.
Multiple Symptom Checker - Other Symptoms
Multiple Symptom Checker Combinations
- Fatigue and Muscle weakness (1145 causes)
- Fatigue and Muscle symptoms (861 causes)
- Fatigue and Weakness (820 causes)
- Fatigue and Pain (800 causes)
- Fatigue and Nerve symptoms (782 causes)
- Fatigue and Sensations (764 causes)
- Fatigue and Digestive symptoms (703 causes)
- Fatigue and Head symptoms (575 causes)
- Fatigue and Respiratory symptoms (524 causes)
- Fatigue and Swelling symptoms (490 causes)
- Fatigue and Weight loss (476 causes)
- Fatigue and Temperature symptoms (464 causes)
- Fatigue and Fever (463 causes)
- Fatigue and Skin symptoms (461 causes)
- Fatigue and Abdominal symptoms (452 causes)
- Fatigue and Behavioral symptoms (441 causes)
- Fatigue and Body symptoms (439 causes)
- Fatigue and Breathing symptoms (438 causes)
- Fatigue and Breath symptoms (427 causes)
- Fatigue and Weight symptoms (423 causes)
See full list of 3481 Multiple Symptom Checker combinations related to Fatigue
Home Diagnostic Testing and Fatigue
Home medical tests possibly related to Fatigue:
- Fatigue: Related Home Tests:
- Thyroid: Home Testing:
- Home TSH Tests
- Home Adrenal Function Tests
- Adrenal Gland Health: Home Testing:
- Sleep Disorders: Home Testing
Causes of General Symptom Types
Research the causes of these more general types of symptom:
- Common symptoms (4552 causes)
- Sick (3133 causes)
- Muscle weakness (2042 causes)
- Muscle symptoms (2550 causes)
- Weakness (2017 causes)
Causes of Similar Symptoms to Fatigue
Research the causes of these symptoms that are similar to, or related to, the symptom Fatigue:
- Malaise (253 causes)
- Drowsiness (474 causes)
- Prostration (28 causes)
- Listlessness (22 causes)
- Weakness (2017 causes)
- Tired (177 causes)
- Lethargy (239 causes)
- Muscle weakness (2042 causes)
- Sleepiness (474 causes)
- Fever (1218 causes)
- Recurring fever
- Chronic fatigue
Diagnostic Guides for Fatigue
Medical Books Excerpts Read excertps from published book sections related to Fatigue from the following published medical books for more detailed information about Fatigue. Free access (no registration): read all online diagnostic book sections about Fatigue
Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.
Misdiagnosis and Fatigue
Unnecessary hysterectomies due to undiagnosed bleeding disorder in women: The bleeding disorder called Von Willebrand's disease is quite common in...read more »
Anemia undiagnosed in pregnancy: The onset of anemia (low red blood cells) in pregnancy is sometimes overlooked, despite it being a well-known complication of pregnancy. The...read more »
Underactive thryoid may be misdiagnosed as depression: Hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid, is an endocrine gland disorder that is more common in women. It can mimic many diseases...read more »
Cluster of diseases with difficult diagnosis issues: There is a well-known list of medical conditions that are all somewhat difficult to diagnose, and all can present...read more »
RLS sleep disorder causing night-time leg sensations often misdiagnosed: A common but relatively unknown sleep-related disorder called Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) is often misdiagnosed. The...read more »
Pituitary conditions often undiagnosed cause of symptoms: There are a variety of symptoms that can be caused by a pituitary disorder (see symptoms of pituitary disorders). For example, fatigue, ...read more »
Vitamin B12 deficiency under-diagnosed: The condition of Vitamin B12 deficiency is a possible misdiagnosis of various conditions, such as multiple sclerosis (see symptoms of multiple sclerosis). See symptoms of Vitamin B12 deficiency or misdiagnosis of...read more »
Is your child always hungry?: Type 1 Diabetes also known as Juvenile Diabetes appears during childhood or adolescence and is a chronic condition which presents with vague symptoms such as failure to gain...read more »
Read more about Misdiagnosis and Fatigue
Diagnostic tests for Fatigue:
Various tests are used in the diagnosis of Fatigue. Some of these are listed below :
- ( should be selected judiciously)
- Physical examination
- Blood pressure taken when lying down and again after rapidly arising to standing position ( looking for postural hypotension of Addison's disease)
- Feel lymph nodes for enlargement
- Abdominal examination looking for an enlarged liver or spleen
See full list of 48
diagnostic tests for Fatigue
Diagnosis Checklist: Questions your doctor may ask (and why!)
During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques in their assessment of Fatigue. Your doctor may ask several questions when assessing your condition. It is important to remember that your consultation is a two-way process and any extra information you can share with your doctor about your symptoms may help them with their diagnosis. Some of the questions your doctor may ask are listed below:
- How long have you felt fatigued? - to determine if acute or chronic.
- Is the fatigue intermittent or constant? - Intermittent fatigue may suggest myasthenia gravis. Constant fatigue may be due to any of the other disorders, however if not associated with weight loss should consider a psychiatric disorder.
- Are there simple reasons to explain fatigue? - e.g. not getting enough sleep, sleep debt, shift work, jet lag and boredom.
- What is the quality of your sleep? - e.g. insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, narcolepsy. Sleep disturbance is a common cause of fatigue.
- What are your stressors at the moment? - questions specifically about relationship, family, children, social support, occupation, general physical health and financial stresses. Stress related to lifestyle is the commonest cause of fatigue.
See Diagnosis Checklist for Fatigue (32 listings)
Diagnosis Checklist: Associated symptoms your doctor may ask about (and why!)
Sometimes, other symptoms may be present and may help your doctor analyse your condition. The symptoms your doctor may ask about (in association with Fatigue) may include:
- Weight loss? - must consider cancer, hyperthyroidism, diabetes mellitus, malnutrition, gut malabsorption and chronic infectious disease (e.g. tuberculosis, subacute bacterial endocarditis).
- Fever? - should consider tuberculosis, subacute bacterial endocarditis, toxoplasmosis, infectious mononucleosis, brucellosis.
- Pallor of the skin? - most likely cause is a type of anemia such as associated with malabsorption syndrome, iron deficiency, pernicious anemia or anemia due to blood loss.
- Polyuria (excessive urination)? - may suggest hyperthyroidism, diabetes mellitus, hyperparathyroidism and chronic renal failure.
- Orthopnea (breathlessness lying down flat)? - suggests left ventricular heart failure.
See Diagnosis Checklist for Fatigue (32 listings)
Stories from Users for Fatigue
Real-life user stories relating to Fatigue:
- Fluid running down back of my head feeling
- chronic fatigue or what????
- Tired of all these tests, but no diagnosis
- Fatigue and Chills from last 6 months. Reports Inconclusive
- fatigue and fog - my turn to ask....
- So tired
- Need help, tired and dizzy all the time (food related?)
- OK! I am tired ya'll
- tired of living
- Possible treatments for Chronic Fatigue?
- I'm tired of doctors please someone help
- "chronic fatigue syndrome" diagnosed
- Yet another who feels constant fatigue...
- Nausea and Fatigue--Hubby frustrated
- Tired of it all......
- Lightheadedness and Fatigue, going on for 2 years.
- I need help...from anyone who has time
- So tired of being tired
- General feeling unwell......
- Lots of Symptoms, NO DIAGNOSIS! Please help :(, So tired!
Symptom specific forums: The following patient stories in our interactive forums and message boards relate to Fatigue or relevant symptoms:
- Constitutional (General Wellbeing) (156)
- Cardiovascular (Heart and Blood Circulation) (171)
- Respiratory (Lungs and Breathing) (136)
- Gastrointestinal (Food - from entry to exit) (452)
- Genitourinary (The urination system) (138)
- Neurological (Nerves) (357)
- Endocrine (Growth and Metabolism) (93)
- Allergic/Immunologic (88)
Videos for Fatigue
MS Energy Management
One of the most common symptoms for patients with multiple sclerosis is fatigue. Though it varies from person to person, fatigue can seriously...
Adjuvant Therapy Side Effects
For most breast cancer patients, adjuvant therapy is a crucial part of treatment. Like many successful drug therapies, however, adjuvant therapy can...
Sleep Problems and Your Doctor
Millions of Americans don't sleep well. And many of them don't do anything about it. But the answer is as close as the telephone. Experts...
The Biology of Jet Lag
Whether you're traveling for business or pleasure, jet lag often keeps you from making the most of your trip. Just about everyone has a tip to...
Patient Surveys for Fatigue
- Patient Profile Survey
Take Survey View Results - Survey about diseases related to your Fatigue
Take Survey View Results
Medications or substances causing Fatigue:
The following drugs, medications, substances or toxins are some of the possible
causes of Fatigue as a symptom.
Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using,
including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.
- Certain medications
- Diuretics - may lower magnesium levels.
- Beta blockers
- Digitoxin
- Crystodigin
See full list of 561
medications causing Fatigue
Drug interactions causing Fatigue:
When combined, certain drugs, medications, substances or toxins may react causing Fatigue as a symptom. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.
- Meprobamate and alcohol interaction
- Equanil and alcohol interaction
- Meprospan and alcohol interaction
- Miltown and alcohol interaction
- Probate and alcohol interaction
See full list of 358 drug interactions causing Fatigue
Definitions of Fatigue:
Fatigue: ponophobia, kopophobia.
Source: Stedman's Medical Spellchecker, © 2006 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.
Fatigue is that state, following a period of mental or bodily activity, characterized by a lessened capacity for work and reduced efficiency of accomplishment, usually accompanied by a feeling of weariness, sleepiness, or irritability. (On-line Medical Dictionary)
- (Source - Diseases Database)
State of weariness following a period of exertion, mental or physical, characterized by a decreased capacity for work and reduced efficiency to respond to stimuli.
- (Source - CRISP)
A condition marked by extreme tiredness and inability to function due lack of energy. Fatigue may be acute or chronic.
- (Source - National Cancer Institute)
Organs affected by Fatigue:
The list of organs typically affected by Fatigue may include, but is not limited to:
- General constitution
Detailed list of causes of Fatigue
The list below shows some of the causes of Fatigue mentioned in various sources:
- 2-Hydroxyglutaricaciduria - lethargy
- 2-methylbutyryl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency - lethargy
- 3 alpha methylcrotonyl-Coa carboxylase 1 deficiency - lethargy
- 3 alpha methylcrotonyl-coa carboxylase 2 deficiency - lethargy
- 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase deficiency - lethargy
See full list of 1283 causes of Fatigue
How Common are these Causes of Fatigue?
This information refers to the general prevalence and incidence of these diseases, not to how likely they are to be the actual cause of Fatigue. Of the 1283 causes of Fatigue that we have listed, we have the following prevalence/incidence information:
- 34 causes are "very common" diseases
- 37 causes are "common" diseases
- 22 causes are "uncommon" diseases
- 4 causes are "rare" diseases
- 98 causes are "very rare" diseases
- 1152 causes have no prevalence information.
See the analysis of the prevalence of 1283
causes of Fatigue
Conditions listing symptoms: Fatigue:
The following list of conditions have 'Fatigue' or similar listed as a symptom in our database. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.