RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Epidemiology of paediatric chronic fatigue syndrome in Australia
JF Archives of Disease in Childhood
JO Arch Dis Child
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
SP 733
OP 738
DO 10.1136/archdischild-2018-316450
VO 104
IS 8
A1 Sarah Knight
A1 Shane Elders
A1 Jill Rodda
A1 Adrienne Harvey
A1 Lionel Lubitz
A1 Kathy Rowe
A1 Colette Reveley
A1 Sabine Hennel
A1 Susan Towns
A1 Kasia Kozlowska
A1 Donald N Payne
A1 Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik
A1 Adam Scheinberg
YR 2019
UL http://adc.bmj.com/content/104/8/733.abstract
AB Objective To estimate the paediatrician-diagnosed incidence of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) in Australia, and describe demographic and clinical features, as well as approaches to diagnosis and management.Methods The Australian Paediatric Surveillance Unit facilitates monthly national surveillance of uncommon conditions seen by paediatricians. Data from young people aged <18 years diagnosed with CFS were collected. Incidence was estimated based on new cases reported from April 2015 to April 2016.Results A total of 164 cases of newly diagnosed CFS in young people aged 4–17 years were identified for inclusion. The estimated national incidence for children aged 4–9 years was 0.25 per 100 000 per annum. In children aged 10–17 years, the estimated incidence of paediatrician-diagnosed cases for Victoria (17.48 per 100 000) was substantially greater than other Australian states (range 1.31–5.51 per 100 000). Most cases were female and Caucasian, most commonly presenting after an infectious illness with symptoms gradual in onset. The majority were diagnosed at least 13 months after symptom onset. Symptoms, associations, investigations and management strategies were highly variable.Conclusions Current findings suggest that, consistent with other countries, the Australian incidence of CFS in children aged <10 years is very low. In contrast, the national incidence of CFS in older children and adolescents (aged 10–17 years) is more unclear, with marked variability between geographical regions apparent. This may be due to variation in service accessibility and clinician understanding of CFS. Accordingly, national initiatives to improve equity of care for children with CFS may be required.