Chronic Fatigue Syndrome has long been known as a condition affecting adults. According to a new report, it can be a serious condition amongst teens and adolescents as well.
A Dutch study published in Pediatrics reported that while chronic fatigue syndrome is not as common in teenagers as it is in adults, many cases go undiagnosed, especially by general practitioners. Dr. S.L. Nijhof, a physician at Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital at the University Medical Center in Utrecht co-authored the report.
Nijhof clarified the difference between chronic fatigue syndrome and the typically-tired teenager due to regular growing and busy schedules. “Fatigue is a common complaint among adolescents, with a good prognosis,” he said. “Chronic fatigue syndrome is much less common, but with serious consequences.”
Researchers collected data from 354 general practitioners in the Netherlands and information from pediatric hospitals for the report.
They found that about 1 in 900 teens developed chronic fatigue syndrome, which translated to a prevalence of 111 per 100,000 teens and an annual incidence of 12 per 100,000.
However, nearly 75% of the teens were not diagnosed by their general practitioner but rather by a pediatrician or alternative health-care provider according to the study.
