Fatigue resident survival guide

Jump to navigation Jump to search
Fatigue
Resident Survival Guide
Overview
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Do's
Don'ts

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Mounika Lakhmalla, MBBS[2]Tayyaba Ali, M.D.[3]

Synonyms and keywords:Approach to weakness, Approach to tiredness, Approach to lethargy, Approach to debility

Overview

Fatigue is a common nonspecific symptom due to a wide range of etiologies.Patients often use this term to describe a range of issues like difficulty initiating activity; decreased capacity to maintain activity; Trouble with concentration, memory, and emotional stability; or sleepiness or an uncontrollable need to sleep. The term fatigue can sometimes be used synonymously with Tiredness. Fatigue can present alone as a primary symptom or in association with other localizing symptoms.

Causes

Life Threatening Causes

Life-threatening causes include conditions that may result in death or permanent disability within 24 hours if left untreated.

Common Causes

  • Multiple sclerosis[3]
  • After malignancy treatment, patients can experience different patterns of fatigue from chemotherapy, radiation treatment, or surgery[4].
  • After malignancy treatment, patients can experience different patterns of fatigue from chemotherapy, radiation treatment, or surgery.

Diagnosis

The approach to the diagnosis of fatigue is based on a step-wise testing strategy. Below is an algorithm summarising the identification and laboratory diagnosis of fatigue.

  • Diagnostic evaluation of fatigue when it presents as a predominant symptom includes a detailed history and physical examination, basic laboratory studies, and updated cancer screening interventions.
  • Additional diagnostic testing depends on associated localized findings.
  • Extensive laboratory studies with out a suggestive history or physical exam findings is of limited diagnostic utility while evaluating chronic fatigue.


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Seek proper history, ask patients to describe in their own words, what do they mean by fatigue?
This will help distinguish fatigue from
somnolence
muscle weakness
The history should also determine the characteristics, severity, and temporal pattern of fatigue:
❑ Onset – Abrupt or gradual, relationship to illness or life event
❑ Course – Stable, improving, or worsening
❑ Duration and daily pattern
❑ Factors that alleviate or exacerbate it
❑ Impact on daily life – Ability to work, socialize, participate in family activities
❑ Accommodations that the patient/family has had to make to deal with symptom
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Characterize the cardiac symptoms:
Dyspnea on exertion
Orthopnea
❑ Leg swelling
 
Characterize the pulmonary symptoms:
❑ Dyspnea
❑ Chronic cough
❑ Sputum production
❑ Snoring
❑ Interrupted breathing during sleep
 
Characterize the endocrinologic / metabolic symptoms:
Cold intolerance
Weight gain
Constipation
❑ Dry skin
Heat intolerance
Weight loss
❑ Diarrhea
❑ Moist skin
❑ Nausea/vomiting
❑ Mental status changes
❑ Decreased urine
❑ Abdominal distention
❑ Gastrointestinal bleeding
❑ Salt craving
❑ Gastrointestinal complaints
❑ Malaise
❑ Cognitive dysfunction
Anorexia
Polydipsia/polyuria
 
Characterize the hematologic / neoplastic symptoms:
❑ Dizziness
❑ Weakness
Palpitations
Dyspnea
❑ Weight loss
 
Characterize the Infectious diseases symptoms:
❑ Fever/chills
❑ Sore throat
❑ Tender lymph nodes
❑ Nausea/vomiting
❑ Abdominal discomfort
Weight loss
Night sweats
❑ Myalgias
 
Characterize the rheumatologic symptoms:
❑ Chronic diffuse muscle pain
❑ Aching/morning stiffness of shoulders, neck, and hips
 
Characterize the psychological symptoms:
❑ Sad mood
Anhedonia
❑ Altered sleep
❑ Cognitive dysfunction
❑ Generalized nervousness
Panic attacks
Phobias
❑ Multiple chronic constitutional and localized complaints
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Examine the patient:
❑ Elevated jugular venous distension
❑ Peripheral edema
❑ S3 gallop
❑ Inspiratory rales
 
Examine the patient:
❑ Evidence of hyperinflation
Wheezing
Rales
Obesity
❑ Hypertension
 
Examine the patient:
Bradycardia
Goiter
❑ Slow deep tendon reflex relaxation phase
Tachycardia
❑ Ophthalmopathy
❑ Hypertension
❑ Peripheral edema
Jaundice
Palmar erythema
Gynecomastia
Splenomegaly
❑ Evidence of ascites
❑ Hypotension
❑ Hyperpigmentation
❑ Vitiligo
 
Examine the patient:
Tachycardia
Pallor
 
Examine the patient:
Fever
❑ Exudate pharyngitis
❑ Tender cervical adenopathy
Jaundice
❑ Tender hepatomegaly
❑ New (regurgitant) murmur
Cough
Chest pain
❑ Dyspnea
Hemoptysis
 
Examine the patient:
❑ Multiple "tender points" on palpation
❑ Decreased range of motion of shoulders, neck, and hips
 
Examine the patient:
❑ Tachycardia
❑ Muscle tension
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Diagnostic work-up:
❑ Chest radiograph
❑ Echocardiogram
 
Diagnostic work-up:
❑ Chest radiograph
❑ Sleep study
 
Diagnostic work-up:
Thyroid function tests
Renal function tests/ serum electrolytes
Hepatic function tests
❑ Morning cortisol/ACTH, ACTH stimulation test
❑Serum sodium level
❑Serum calcium level
 
Diagnostic work-up:
Complete blood count
 
Diagnostic work-up:
❑ Complete blood/differential count
❑ Monospot
Hepatic function tests
❑ Viral hepatitis serologies
HIV serology
❑ Blood cultures
Echocardiogram
❑ PPD/gamma-interferon assay
❑ Chest radiograph
 
Diagnostic work-up:
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
 
Diagnostic work-up:
❑ Screening tests (eg, PHQ-2, PHQ-9, GAD-7, SSS-8
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consider differential diagnosis:
Congective heart failure
Atypical angina [5]
 
Consider differential diagnosis:
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [6]
Sleep apnea [7]
 
Consider differential diagnosis:
Hypothyroidism [8]
Hyperthyroidism [9]
❑ Inflammatory bowel disease [10]
Chronic renal disease [11]
Chronic hepatic disease [12]
Adrenal insufficiency [13]
Hyponatremia [14]
Hypercalcemia [15]
 
Consider differential diagnosis:
Anemia [15]
Occult malignancy [16]
 
 
Consider differential diagnosis:
Fibromyalgia [22]
Polymyalgia rheumatica [23]
 
Consider differential diagnosis:
Depression [24]
Anxiety disorder [25]
Somatization disorder [26]

Treatment

Shown below is an algorithm summarizing the treatment of [[disease name]] according the the [...] guidelines.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Do's

  • The content in this section is in bullet points.

Don'ts

  • The content in this section is in bullet points.

References

  1. Grimstad T, Norheim KB (2016). "Fatigue in inflammatory bowel disease". Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 136 (20): 1721–1724. doi:10.4045/tidsskr.16.0134. PMID 27830906.
  2. Swain MG, Jones DEJ (2019). "Fatigue in chronic liver disease: New insights and therapeutic approaches". Liver Int. 39 (1): 6–19. doi:10.1111/liv.13919. PMID 29935104.
  3. Akcali A, Zengin F, Aksoy SN, Zengin O (2017). "Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis: Is it related to cytokines and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis?". Mult Scler Relat Disord. 15: 37–41. doi:10.1016/j.msard.2017.03.004. PMID 28641771.
  4. Greenberg DB (2002). "Clinical Dimensions of Fatigue". Prim Care Companion J Clin Psychiatry. 4 (3): 90–93. doi:10.4088/pcc.v04n0301. PMC 181235. PMID 15014735.
  5. Smith OR, Michielsen HJ, Pelle AJ, Schiffer AA, Winter JB, Denollet J (2007). "Symptoms of fatigue in chronic heart failure patients: clinical and psychological predictors". Eur J Heart Fail. 9 (9): 922–7. doi:10.1016/j.ejheart.2007.05.016. PMID 17631047.
  6. Theander K, Unosson M (2004). "Fatigue in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease". J Adv Nurs. 45 (2): 172–7. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2648.2003.02878.x. PMID 14706002.
  7. Vgontzas AN, Papanicolaou DA, Bixler EO, Hopper K, Lotsikas A, Lin HM; et al. (2000). "Sleep apnea and daytime sleepiness and fatigue: relation to visceral obesity, insulin resistance, and hypercytokinemia". J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 85 (3): 1151–8. doi:10.1210/jcem.85.3.6484. PMID 10720054.
  8. Louwerens M, Appelhof BC, Verloop H, Medici M, Peeters RP, Visser TJ; et al. (2012). "Fatigue and fatigue-related symptoms in patients treated for different causes of hypothyroidism". Eur J Endocrinol. 167 (6): 809–15. doi:10.1530/EJE-12-0501. PMID 22989469.
  9. Kaltsas G, Vgontzas A, Chrousos G (2010). "Fatigue, endocrinopathies, and metabolic disorders". PM R. 2 (5): 393–8. doi:10.1016/j.pmrj.2010.04.011. PMID 20656620.
  10. Qazi T (2020). "Fatigue in inflammatory bowel disease: a problematic ailment". Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 36 (4): 284–294. doi:10.1097/MOG.0000000000000644. PMID 32398564 Check |pmid= value (help).
  11. Jhamb M, Liang K, Yabes J, Steel JL, Dew MA, Shah N; et al. (2013). "Prevalence and correlates of fatigue in chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease: are sleep disorders a key to understanding fatigue?". Am J Nephrol. 38 (6): 489–95. doi:10.1159/000356939. PMC 3925636. PMID 24335380.
  12. Dwight MM, Kowdley KV, Russo JE, Ciechanowski PS, Larson AM, Katon WJ (2000). "Depression, fatigue, and functional disability in patients with chronic hepatitis C." J Psychosom Res. 49 (5): 311–7. doi:10.1016/s0022-3999(00)00155-0. PMID 11164055.
  13. Colombo C, De Leo S, Di Stefano M, Vannucchi G, Persani L, Fugazzola L (2019). "Primary Adrenal Insufficiency During Lenvatinib or Vandetanib and Improvement of Fatigue After Cortisone Acetate Therapy". J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 104 (3): 779–784. doi:10.1210/jc.2018-01836. PMC 6402317. PMID 30383218.
  14. "Correction to Lancet Infectious Diseases 2020; published online April 29. https://doi.org/10.1016/ S1473-3099(20)30064-5". Lancet Infect Dis. 20 (7): e148. 2020. doi:10.1016/S1473-3099(20)30370-4. PMID 32595044 Check |pmid= value (help). External link in |title= (help)
  15. 15.0 15.1 McGill KC, Lau K, Dorfman LJ, Westwick CR, Peterson DL, Gleisner JM, Blakley RL (February 1991). "A comparison of turns analysis and motor unit analysis in electromyography". Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol. 81 (1): 8–17. doi:10.1016/0168-5597(91)90098-i. PMID 1705223.
  16. Howell SJ, Radford JA, Smets EM, Shalet SM (2000). "Fatigue, sexual function and mood following treatment for haematological malignancy: the impact of mild Leydig cell dysfunction". Br J Cancer. 82 (4): 789–93. doi:10.1054/bjoc.1999.1000. PMC 2374403. PMID 10732747.
  17. Katz BZ, Shiraishi Y, Mears CJ, Binns HJ, Taylor R (2009). "Chronic fatigue syndrome after infectious mononucleosis in adolescents". Pediatrics. 124 (1): 189–93. doi:10.1542/peds.2008-1879. PMC 2756827. PMID 19564299.
  18. Poynard T, Cacoub P, Ratziu V, Myers RP, Dezailles MH, Mercadier A; et al. (2002). "Fatigue in patients with chronic hepatitis C." J Viral Hepat. 9 (4): 295–303. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2893.2002.00364.x. PMID 12081607.
  19. "Retraction notice to "Differential impact of diabetes and hypertension in the brain: adverse effects in grey matter" [Neurobiol. Dis., 44 (2011) 161–173, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/ j.nbd.2011.06.005]". Neurobiol Dis. 68: 229. 2014. doi:10.1016/j.nbd.2014.05.006. PMID 25077353. External link in |title= (help)
  20. Holmes GP, Kaplan JE, Gantz NM, Komaroff AL, Schonberger LB, Straus SE; et al. (1988). "Chronic fatigue syndrome: a working case definition". Ann Intern Med. 108 (3): 387–9. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-108-3-387. PMID 2829679.
  21. Schmoldt A, Benthe HF, Haberland G, Kahn A, Vives JL, Bertrand O, Cottreau D, Marie J, Boivin P, Flohr H, Breull W, Smith RJ, Bryant RG, Koolman J, Karlson P (September 1975). "Digitoxin metabolism by rat liver microsomes". Biochem. Pharmacol. 24 (17): 1639–41. doi:10.1016/0009-8981(76)90051-6. PMID 10.
  22. "Reorganized text". JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 141 (5): 428. 2015. doi:10.1001/jamaoto.2015.0540. PMID 25996397.
  23. Green DJ, Muller S, Mallen CD, Hider SL (2015). "Fatigue as a precursor to polymyalgia rheumatica: an explorative retrospective cohort study". Scand J Rheumatol. 44 (3): 219–23. doi:10.3109/03009742.2014.959047. PMID 25366389.
  24. Visser MR, Smets EM (1998). "Fatigue, depression and quality of life in cancer patients: how are they related?". Support Care Cancer. 6 (2): 101–8. doi:10.1007/s005200050142. PMID 9540167.
  25. Fischler B, Cluydts R, De Gucht Y, Kaufman L, De Meirleir K (1997). "Generalized anxiety disorder in chronic fatigue syndrome". Acta Psychiatr Scand. 95 (5): 405–13. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0447.1997.tb09653.x. PMID 9197905.
  26. Manu P, Lane TJ, Matthews DA (1989). "Somatization disorder in patients with chronic fatigue". Psychosomatics. 30 (4): 388–95. doi:10.1016/S0033-3182(89)72244-1. PMID 2798731.


Template:WikiDoc Sources