How does long COVID, ADHD and Lyme disease set the stage for chronic fatigue syndrome?
COVID
Post-COVID, chronic fatigue symptoms, and chronic fatigue syndrome are a very related phenomenon. The belief is that a minority of individuals with an acute COVID-19 infection will develop symptoms of chronic fatigue, often months after contracting coronavirus. These individuals progress to be ‘long-haulers’ with chronic fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, and sometimes confusion.
LYME DISEASE
When Lyme disease is diagnosed in the early stages, the infection can be treated with certain antibiotics. Treatment may last from ten days to up to three weeks. Most people recover with treatment, but some people develop fatigue and muscle pain that can extend for up to six months. However, some individuals have chronic fatigue years after a tick bite, known as “Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome.”
ADHD
Many cases of CFS are the result of childhood ADHD. It is believed that brain fog results from the same biological process that causes ADHD, namely a complex dysregulation of the brain’s dopamine and norepinephrine modulation. Some researchers have found that the presence of ADHD, along with CFS and depression, increases the intensity of fatigue. It also is linked to an earlier age of onset of CFS. Researchers have found that individuals with ADHD had an earlier age of onset of chronic fatigue syndrome (age 30) than the subjects who did not have ADHD (35 years). Post-COVID, chronic fatigue symptoms, and chronic fatigue syndrome are closely related. It is believed that a small percentage of individuals who have had COVID-19 may develop symptoms of chronic fatigue months after contracting the virus. These people may become "long-haulers" with chronic fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, and confusion.
