Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is usually characterized by a prolonged bout of fatigue accompanied by a wide range of other symptoms. The condition can affect individuals of any age but is more common between the ages of 25 and 45, with females usually affected more than males.

An adult is diagnosed with CFS if, for at least four months, they have had chronic fatigue but with no obvious other medical issue causing the condition. The main symptoms associated with CFS include sore throat, muscle pain, lack of concentration, joint pain, headaches, and fitful sleep. Some other symptoms that can also occur are abdominal pain, bloating, cough, chest pain, earache, jaw pain, stiffness, diarrhea, weight loss, nausea and night sweats.

As a rule, the symptoms of CFS are not improved by taking bed rest and conversely may be made worse by some physical or mental activities. As it is unknown what actually causes the condition, it is very difficult to prevent; it is not, though, a contagious condition. Some causes that are thought to contribute to CFS include having had a viral infection of some description, depression, stress or a life changing event such as loss of employment or bereavement.

The prevalence of fatigue states

Following on from this, there are no specific treatments’ for the condition either, but medication can be prescribed for the associated symptoms, for example, taking painkillers for headaches.

In nearly all countries of the world, back pain is the single largest cause of absence due to sickness from work. It is a chronic problem in a lot of people and a large proportion suffer from recurring problems. More often than not, the pain is due to minor damage that may have occurred to the muscles of ligaments of the back due to a variety of reasons such as lifting, twisting, being overweight or even standing in the wrong sort of position.

On other occasions it can be caused by more serious medical conditions such as a slipped disc, a disease like arthritis, muscle tears or scoliosis (curvature of the spine). When first suffering from back pain it is always advisable to visit a physician just to clarify the pain is not due to a treatable medical condition, and this is especially true in younger people.

Common Back Pain

Symptoms of back pain include a sharp pain in a specific area, a generalized ache in the region of the buttocks or lower back, stiffness and difficulty bending over. When the pain is due to a prolapsed disc there could be pressure on a nerve which will send pain radiating down the back of a leg to the foot. This is known as sciatica.

Back pain can occur to anyone of any age, but is more common in individuals who are overweight and those who sit in a slouching position for long periods of time. Treatment for back pain depends on the cause, but things like pain killers, losing weight and changing posture are the norm for “non-medical” back pain.

Down syndrome is a genetic disorder otherwise known as trisomy and it is where an individual has inherited an additional or extra copy of a particular chromosome. In the case of Down’s syndrome, the affected individuals have three copies rather than two of chromosome 21. The consequence of this additional copy is that it changes the balance of the body resulting in characteristic intellectual and physical features.

Down Syndrome

There are three kinds of Down’s syndrome: regular trisomy 21 which is where all the cells in the body have an extra chromosome 21 and is the most common type of the condition with nearly 94% affected with Down’s having it; translocation, which is where extra chromosome 21 material attaches to another chromosome, and four percent have this type; and mosaic, which is where only some of the cells have additional chromosome 21. This usually has milder features than the other two types and only two percent of affected individuals have mosaic.

Down syndrome sufferers look different to normal people and usually have a flat type of facial profile with eyes slanting upwards. Smaller ears, protruding tongue and a flat back of the head are other features. Individuals affected tend to be shorter than normal, have poor muscle tone and have broad, short hands. Half the affected individuals have a heart defect, which can be treated in some, but not others. Some have problems with their gut, making it difficult to eat while increasing the risk of constipation and thyroid problems.

There is no cure for Down syndrome but there are treatments available for the accompanying symptoms as well as support for the learning difficulties.