Cutaneous Complication of Chronic Fatigue: An Answer From the Horse’s Mouth

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is defined as new-onset fatigue lasting at least 6 months not substantially alleviated by rest and detrimental to professional and social functioning.¹ Diagnosis also requires at least 4 of the following: impairment of short-term memory or concentration, sore throat, muscle pain, multijoint pain without swelling or redness, headaches distinct from any experienced before, and disproportionate malaise after exertion.¹ Nonetheless, self-diagnosis is common, and many patients seek alternative treatments.² One consequence of the use of alternative treatment is morbidity owing to delayed recognition of reversible causes of fatigue.² Herein, however, we report a case of self-diagnosed CFS in which morbidity stemmed directly from the alternative treatment pursued.