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.