Is long Covid comparable to chronic fatigue syndrome?

Long COVID and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), also called myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), have significant similarities, but there are also important differences.

Both people with PLW and CFS/ME experience severe fatigue that does not go away with rest and can significantly limit daily functioning. In both conditions, symptoms often worsen after physical or mental exertion. This is called post-exertional malaise and can last for days to weeks.

Brain fog is a common symptom in both PLW and CFS/ME. Both CFS/ME and PLW can be accompanied by muscle pain, joint pain, and headaches.

However, there are also important differences. PLW specifically develops after infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, while CFS/ME often starts after various triggers, such as infections, stress, or trauma. The exact cause of CFS/ME is not fully understood.

PLUW symptoms develop after a COVID-19 infection, while CFS/ME can sometimes develop gradually or after a non-specific infection or other trauma. Long COVID can have specific symptoms directly related to the COVID-19 infection, such as breathing problems. These are not common in CFS/ME.

Some researchers suspect that long COVID can trigger the development of CFS/ME in some patients, but there is no scientific evidence for the link yet.

Source: https://www.journalofinfection.com/article/S0163-4453(24)00231-7/fulltext

Author: Prof. Dr. Dirk Devroey - Latest update: 2024-10-15 - Copyright: Clinifacts 2025