Fatigue is such a common and often vague symptom, yet it can signal something serious. In your clinical experience, what red flags or warning signs do you always watch for when a patient presents with persistent fatigue?
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With persistent fatigue we should always watch for :-
Unexplained weight loss … Which can be a pointer towards mild to chronic conditions.
Night sweats … Related to infection and autoimmune conditions.
Lymphadenopathy… Related to infection and malignancy.
Mood changes… Related to depression and anxiety.
Muscle weakness… Related to myopathies, electrolyte disbalance and endocrine conditions.
Night Sweats or Fevers
- Can be signs of infection
Lymphadenopathy
Neurological Symptoms
- Weakness
Shortness of Breath .
Mood Changes or Sleep Disturbances
- depression
Pallor or Signs of Anemia
- Pale skin, tachycardia, or exertional intolerance , or other chronic disease processes.
Endocrine Clues
- Symptoms like cold intolerance, constipation, dry skin (hypothyroidism)
Medication or Substance Use
- New medicines
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Red flags to watch with patients in persistent fatigue are:
- unintentional weight loss
- fever or night sweats
- pallor or breathlessness
- depression of sleep disturbance
- lymphadenopathy or hepatosplenomegaly
- persistent pain