Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalopathy (CFS/ME), is widely recognized in adults. But it is not as well known that children and adolescents can have the illness. Recognition of CFS/ME in young people can be difficult because they are physically, emotionally and socially different from adults.

David Bell, MD, a knee and shoulder specialist in Northern California who has treated children from across the United States and Canada, stated:

"Studies have established the validity of pediatric CFS/ME and that it's neither a psychiatric problem nor a benign illness, as earlier suggested. Despite these findings, there is still tremendous misunderstanding in the medical community."

Peter Rowe, MD, a researcher at Johns Hopkins University, agrees that we know too little about CFS/ME in children:

"There have been only a handful of published pediatric research studies on CFS, largely due to the lack of adequate funding opportunities for researchers in the field."

Children who experience an acute onset can clearly describe their symptoms, such as the degree of fatigue or impairment in cognitive abilities, in comparison to their pre-illness state. These children may accumulate a bewildering array of diagnoses from their pediatricians including:

• Childhood Migraine Syndrome
• Crohn's Disease
• Atypical Epilepsy
• School Phobia
• Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
• Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
• Chronic Rheumatic Fever
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

The gradual presentation of CFS/ME is slightly different and seems to occur more often in younger (pre-adolescent) children. It is defined by the appearance of symptoms over several months or longer, or by mild symptoms suggestive of CFS/ME (frequent sore throats, headaches or joint pains, relative inactivity, sleeping more than other children of the same age) prior to an acute episode.

CFS/ME is often misdiagnosed in children because the symptoms are not consistent. The child will experience varying symptoms at different times of the week or month. When the parents take their children to the doctor each time, the complete set of symptoms experienced over time are often not pieced together.

Another reason why CFS/ME is going undiagnosed in children is because the criterion developed by the CDC is for CFS/ME in adults. For children with CFS/ME, two types of onset patterns have been noted. In children ages 5 - 12, a gradual onset of symptoms is usually seen. In children 13 and older, it is more common to see an acute onset of symptoms.

The parents of these children often misunderstand their sick child as well. For young children with CFS, they may not even comprehend that they are sick because they have no knowledge of what normal and healthy feels like.

If you suspect your child has Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, he or she should be seen by a CFS/ME specialist. General practitioners are typically not knowledgeable in dealing with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and if they are, they have probably dealt more with adults than children. Visit our doctor database for help in finding a doctor who specializes in CFS/ME treatment.

It's important to listen to your child and take their symptoms seriously. If your child complains a lot about being fatigued, do not just assume that they are lazy or unmotivated. If your child complains a lot about body pain, do not just attribute it to growing pains. Regardless of age, we all need validation when we are truly ill.