Viruses that cause fatigue

One of the first major reports on coronavirus symptoms was published by the World Health Organization in February, following their mission to China. That report, based on nearly 56, cases there, found the most common symptoms were fever 88 percent and dry cough 68 percent. Nearly 40 percent of those patients experienced fatigue.

Shortness of breath, stomach issues and weakness were less common. Many patients who've either tested positive for the coronavirus, or have been told by their physicians to assume they have it, also develop a headache and sore throat.

Others become sick to their stomach with nausea or diarrhea. Some patients say they have no interest in eating. Many report they're losing their senses of taste and smell, the British Rhinological Society said recently.

A third of the 38 patients in the report had the inflammatory eye condition. But it's also becoming more clear that some infected people spreading the virus don't have any symptoms at all. The main symptom of post-viral fatigue is a significant lack of energy. Post-viral fatigue seems to be triggered by a viral infection. In learning about your condition, you might come across information about chronic fatigue syndrome CFS.

This is a complex condition that causes extreme tiredness for no clear reason. While some consider CFS and post-viral fatigue to be the same thing, post-viral fatigue has an identifiable underlying cause a viral infection.

Learn more about the connection between your immune system and inflammation. Post-viral fatigue is often hard to diagnose because fatigue is a symptom of many other conditions.

It may take some time to rule out other potential causes of your fatigue. Before seeing a doctor, try to write down a timeline of your symptoms. If you see a doctor, make sure to give them this information. Keep in mind that they might also ask about any mental health symptoms you have, including those of depression or anxiety. Ongoing fatigue is sometimes a symptom of these. A blood and urine test can help to rule out common sources of fatigue, including hypothyroidism , diabetes , or anemia.

Instead, treatment usually focuses on managing your symptoms. This, combined with the limited information about the condition, can make you feel isolated or hopeless.

Consider joining a group of others experiencing similar symptoms, either in your local area or online. The American Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Society offers a variety of resources on their website, including lists of support groups and advice on how to talk to your doctor about your condition. In immunocompromised patients, it can reactivate to cause neurological dysfunction, encephalitis, pneumonia and organ failure.

After the first encounter, or "primary infection," all nine known human herpesviruses become silent, or "latent," but may reactivate and cause diseases upon immunosuppression or during aging. A previous study from the Medveczky laboratory showed that HHV-6 is unique among human herpesviruses; during latency, its DNA integrates into the structures at the end of chromosomes known as telomeres. By contrast, the "latent" genome of all other human herpesviruses converts to a circular form in the nucleus of the cell, not integrated into the chromosomes, and not inheritable by future generations.

Most studies suggest that around 0. Medveczky reports that some of these individuals suffer from a CFS-like illness.

In a cohort of CFS patients with serious neurological symptoms, the researchers found that the prevalence of CIHHV-6 was over 2 percent, or more than twice the level found in the general public. The team followed these patients during treatment, and discovered that the HHV-6 mRNA disappeared by the sixth week of antiviral therapy with valganciclovir, a drug used to treat closely related cytomegalovirus HHV Infected people who do not have symptoms can still spread viruses.

For example, norovirus may be found in your stool before you have symptoms and up to 2 weeks after you recover. Norovirus is especially contagious, meaning that it spreads easily from person to person. Norovirus can live for months on surfaces such as countertops and changing tables.

When an infected person vomits, the virus may become airborne and land on surfaces or on another person. Viral gastroenteritis may spread in households, day care centers and schools, nursing homes, cruise ships, restaurants, and other places where people gather in groups. If water comes into contact with stools of infected people, the water may become contaminated with a virus. The contaminated water can spread the virus to foods or drinks, and people who consume these foods or drinks may become infected.

People who swim in contaminated water may also become infected. The NIDDK translates and disseminates research findings to increase knowledge and understanding about health and disease among patients, health professionals, and the public. What are the symptoms of dehydration?