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G/THUR/GEN1 CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME IN PRIMARY SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN
S. Davies1, J. Griffin1, E. Crawley2.1North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol, UK; 2Bath Royal United Hospital, Bath, UK
Aim: To describe the presentation and outcome of a cohort of children diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS/ME) while in primary school.
Methods: Data were collected for patients diagnosed with CF/ME under the age of 12 by the Bath/Bristol CFS/ME service between September 2004 and September 2006. Data collected at time zero and 12 months were analysed and included the Chalder fatigue scale, symptom checklist, Pain VAS, SF36, anxiety and depression inventory and school attendance. The notes were reviewed to check whether alternative diagnosis had been made at follow-up.
Results: Twenty six children under 12 were diagnosed as having CFS/ME in this period which is 14% of the total number of children seen. The age range was 3–12 years (mean 9 years). 19/26 children were girls (73%). At diagnosis 2 children were under 6 (8%), 7 children between 5–8 years (27%) and 17 children 9–12 years (65%). The age range at onset of disease was from 2 years 4 months to 12 year (mean 7 year 8 months). At disease onset 6 children were under 6 (23%). The length of time to diagnosis ranged between 3–60 months (median 11 m, mean 8 m). 25/26 children fulfilled the CDC and RCPCH criteria for CFS/ME. 25/26 children had excessive fatigue according to the Chalder fatigue scale. After fatigue the most common feature was unrefreshing sleep which was found in 20/20 (100%) of children. The second and third most common feature were headache in 19/22 (86%) of children and memory impairment in 18/22 (82%). The average number of symptoms at diagnosis was 10 (range 4–14) out of a maximum total of 17. 13/23 (56%) had high levels …