The chronic fatigue syndrome in childhood. A retrospective study

Abstract

In this paper, it is described the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (C.F.S.) in 23 patients (13 male and 10 female), with a mean age of 12 years (range between 9 to 17 years). They were attended in a terciary referral pediatric psychiatric centre. The mean age at onset was 11 years and the mean length of the illness was about 1.5 years. Most of the children had severe fatigue (both physical and mental) with difficulty concentrating, sleep

distubances and numerous physical symptoms (beadaches, arthralgias, nausea,...). Lethargig and tiredness were prominent subsequently on the course of the illness. Most of the patients had impotant disability and 87% missed the school.

Three children suffered from associated depressive disorders and another three of them had anxiety disorclers. Most of the C.F.S. patients (86%) described themselves as anxious, nervous and half of them as unbappy. They were also very sensitive as well as demanding with themselves and sometines bad relationship problems with other children.

It was evident the high porcentage of stable families in which some of their members had similar symptomatology and sometimes were diagnosed of suffering chronic physical illness. They related the problems of their children with physical causes, although only a 10% of these families rejected the possibility of a psychological contribution to the symptomatology.

The Chronic Fatigue Syndrome exists and is a cause of disability in children and teens. Psychological factors are presented in most of them and must be taking into account in the guidance interventions and treatment.