New,
Pediatric Case Definition Helps Pediatricians
Diagnose Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)
Rosemary Underhill, MB BS (UK), Kenneth J Friedman PhD.
There is a new, pediatric case definition for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
(CFS) developed by an international working group of the International
Association for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (IACFS/ME). The definition
appears in print in the Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (Jason et
al., 2006), and is available on the IACFS/ME website (www.iacfs.net).
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is an illness that affects more adult
women than men, but also occurs in children and adolescents. Diagnosing
CFS is difficult because there is no clinical test indicating a positive
diagnosis. The diagnosis of CFS in adults depends upon the patient meeting
the criteria of the generally accepted, international case definition
(Fukuda et al. 1994). Diagnosing children using the adult case definition
has been very problematic. The Fukuda case definition does not capture
all adult patients with CFS, and captures even fewer children and adolescents
with CFS. Hence the development of the new pediatric case definition
containing diagnostic criteria specific for children and adolescents
is a big step forward.
Pediatricians reading about CFS need to be aware that CFS is the name
used in the United States, whereas Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) is
the name used in Europe and elsewhere. To be inclusive, the acronym
ME/CFS is gaining popularity worldwide and is also used in the new pediatric
case definition (Carruthers et al. 2003, and Jason et al. 2006).
For a child or adolescent to be diagnosed as having ME/CFS under the
new criteria the following conditions need to be present:
Unexplained, persistent, or relapsing fatigue that has lasted for at
least three months. The fatigue is not the result of ongoing exertion,
nor is it, relieved by rest. The fatigue must result in a substantial
reduction in previous activities
The concurrent persistence or recurrence of symptoms, from each of the
following five groups, for at least three months:
1. Post-exertional malaise, fatigue, or worsening of other symptoms,
with loss of mental and/or physical stamina, and delayed recovery of
more than 24 hours
2. Un-refreshing sleep, disturbance of sleep quantity or rhythm, daytime
hypersomnia, nighttime insomnia and/or, day/night reversal
3. Widespread or migratory pain, which can be located in the muscles,
the joints (without signs of inflammation), the abdomen, the chest,
the eyes (or sensitivity to light), or a new type, or an increase in
severity of headaches, or nausea or vomiting
4. Two or more neuro-cognitive manifestations, including impaired short
term memory, difficulty in concentration or focusing, difficulty finding
words or numbers, absent mindedness, slowness of thought, difficulty
understanding information and expressing thoughts, educational difficulties
At least one symptom from two of the following three subcategories:
a. Autonomic manifestations, including neurally mediated hypotension,
postural hypotension, postural orthostatic tachycardia, palpitations,
dizziness, shortness of breath, disturbed balance
b. Neuro-endocrine manifestations, including feeling of feverishness,
cold extremities, low body temperature, sweating, intolerance to heat
or cold, change of appetite or weight. Symptoms worsen with stress
c. Immune manifestations, including recurrent flu-like symptoms, sore
throats, fevers and sweats, tender lymph nodes, new sensitivities to
food, medicines, odors, or chemicals.
ME/CFS is a diagnosis of exclusion. Many illnesses with symptoms that
mimic ME/CFS symptoms preclude the diagnosis of ME/CFS: Untreated Hypothyroidism,
Sleep apnea, Narcolepsy, Malignancies, Leukemia, active Hepatitis, Multiple
Sclerosis, Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus Erythematosis, HIV/AIDS,
severe Obesity, untreated Celiac disease, Lyme disease, Mononucleosis,
Juvenile Fibromyalgia, Rheumatoid arthritis, childhood Schizophrenia
or Psychotic disorder, Bipolar disorder, active alcohol abuse, active
eating disorder, Major Depressive disorder.
Other medical and psychiatric illnesses are not necessarily exclusionary:
School phobia, separation anxiety, anxiety disorders, somatoform disorders,
depressive disorders, Fibromyalgia, Multiple chemical sensitivities,
any other medical condition that has been adequately treated, before
or after the onset of the ME/CFS symptoms, any isolated unexplained
physical abnormality or laboratory test which is insufficient to explain
the presence of an exclusionary condition.
In summary, the case definition diagnoses ME/CFS primarily on the basis
of pathological fatigue, the pattern of other symptoms, and the exclusion
of other fatiguing illnesses by medical history, physical examination,
and appropriate tests.
It is important to make the diagnosis as early as possible. While routine
testing may yield normal results, specialized testing may show various
abnormalities in immune, nervous and/or cardiovascular systems. Changes
in cellular energy production are detectable in some patients. Adequate
rest and other supportive treatment may lessen the impact of this illness.
Dramatic improvement is more likely to occur in the first four years
when treatment is provided. Recovery rates of up to 40% have been reported.
Not covered in the case definition but information helpful for diagnosing
pediatric ME/CFS is knowing that adolescents 12 to 17 years of age are
more likely to develop ME/CFS than younger children. Be aware that children
as young as 4 years of age have been diagnosed with ME/CFS. In adolescents,
the onset usually starts suddenly with a fever and flu-like symptoms.
Diagnosis at this point may be difficult because although the symptoms
are severe, the routine blood tests are normal. Moreover, the patient
must be ill for three months before a diagnosis of ME/CFS can be officially
made. A gradual onset of ME/CFS occurs less frequently and is more common
in younger children. In younger children, the onset may take months
or several years. Diagnosing ME/CFS in younger children is further complicated
by the inability of younger children to appreciate that their fatigue
and other symptoms are abnormal. In such cases, the diagnosis of ME/CFS
may be made retrospectively when the child is older. Children and adolescents
with ME/CFS often look well. A lack of obvious external physical signs
of illness may mean that the first sign of illness will be a marked
limitation in either physical or mental activity, which is usually first
noticed by a parent or teacher. The external, well appearance of a ME/CFS
child may lead to the accusation of School Avoidance Behavior (school
phobia) or the citing of a parent for Munchausen’s syndrome by
proxy.
ME/CFS usually occurs as sporadic cases of the illness. Interestingly,
for 20% of patients, more than one family member has the illness suggesting
either an environmental or genetic link. Clusters of cases, or outbreaks,
of the illness have been found worldwide. In many of these outbreaks
the illness has been prominent in school-age children. The prevalence
of CFS/ME in children and adolescents is uncertain. Different prevalence
studies have used different criteria to diagnose ME/CFS and some have
not distinguished children with chronic fatigue from children with possible
ME/CFS.
The severity of ME/CFS varies. Some children are severely disabled and
bedridden, while others can go to school and a few are capable of playing
sports. Most children are between these two extremes. The pattern and
the severity of symptoms experienced by a child may change markedly
from day to day or during the day. It is important to listen to what
the child has to say about the severity of his/her symptoms. Remissions
and relapses are common. Relapses may be caused by over-exertion or
by other infectious illnesses. Over time, slow improvement is likely.
Children whose health improves to near pre-illness levels are likely
to find that they need more rest than their contemporaries.
References:
1. Jason LA, et al. A Pediatric Case Definition for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. J. CFS 2006;13 (2/3):1-28. 2.Fukuda K,
et al. The Chronic fatigue syndrome: A comprehensive approach to its
definition and study. Annals of Int. med. 1994, 121:953-959. 3. Carruthers
BM, et al. ME/CFS: Clinical working case definition, diagnostic and
treatment protocols. J. CFS. 2003; 11(1):7-115.
Information on the authors:
Rosemary Underhill, MB BS (UK), Consultant to the New Jersey CFS Association,
Upper Saddle River, NJ.
Kenneth J Friedman, PhD, Associate Professor of Pharmacology and Physiology,
New Jersey Medical school, UMDNJ, Newark, NJ.
.
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