Chronic fatigue syndrome and children

Wessely, Simon

doi:10.1192/pb.22.4.193

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 8 publications

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“…Follow-up enquiry indicates that many children recover or improve 12,13 . However, the follow-up time in different studies has varied from 4 to 45 months, the length of illness to recovery is usually unclear and the cursory nature of the enquiry (usually telephone contacts) does not allow detailed assessment of physical and psychological status.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The course of severe chronic fatigue syndrome in childhood

2000

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Little has been reported on prognostic indicators in children with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). We used interviews with children and parents, a mean of 45.5 months after illness onset, to follow up 25 cases of CFS referred to tertiary paediatric psychiatric clinics. At its worst, the illness had been markedly handicapping (prolonged bed-rest and school absence in two-thirds); mean time out of school was one academic year. Two-thirds, however, had recovered and resumed normal activities--mean duration of illness to recovery/assessment 38 months--and none had developed other medical conditions. Recovery was associated with specific physical triggers to the illness, with start of illness in the autumn school term and with higher socioeconomic status. Severe fatigue states in children can cause serious and longlasting handicap but most children recover.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%