Phenotypes of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in Children

Identifying specific CFS phenotypes offers some benefit in counseling patients.

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a condition of generalized unexplained fatigue, lasting more than 3 months, of unknown etiology. To identify phenotypes of CFS in children, investigators in the U.K. used factor analysis to analyze symptoms in 333 patients younger than 19 years (mean age, 15 years; 69% female) with clinical diagnoses of CFS at a referral clinic during a 40-month period.

The authors identified the following three phenotypes:

Musculoskeletal phenotype: characterized by muscle and joint pain and associated with the greatest degree of fatigue among the three phenotypes
Migraine phenotype: characterized by headache, abdominal pain, nausea, dizziness, and hypersensitivity to noise, light, and touch; most often seen in girls and asso…

Reviewing Author

F. Bruder Stapleton, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardCareer Physician

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Pediatric Nephrology Foundation (Chair)

F. Bruder Stapleton, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardCareer Physician

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Pediatric Nephrology Foundation (Chair)