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M.E. (and ICD-CFS) Articles, Research and Books 
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Research topics: General Articles and Research Overviews, Immune System Research, Viral Research, Cardiac Research, Exercise Research, Muscle Research, Metabolic Research, Neurological and Cognitive Research, Genetic Research, Neuroendocrine Research, and Miscellaneous Research.
Article topics: The Definitions of M.E., On 'fatigue', CBT, GET and the unscientific 'behavioural' paradigm of M.E., On 'stress', M.E. Outbreaks, On the Name Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, M.E. and Other Illnesses, Children with M.E., The Severity of M.E., M.E. Fatalities, Activism Articles, Articles sorted by Author, Articles sorted by Country and Historical, Political and Medical Overviews
Read Putting Research and Articles into Context
On this page: Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Children page 1 of 1
Articles of increased importance are highlighted in green *O*
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M.E. and Children - Medical
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A unique study of biochemical markers in the blood of children with ME/CFS (from MERGE)
Estimates vary but there are probably around 20,000 children with ME in the UK alone, yet some doctors do not recognise the problem, and fail to investigate it...
If the scientific study of ME in adults is sparse given the extent of the problem, in terms of children it is almost non-existent
Long-term sickness absence due to ME/CFS in UK schools: an epidemiological study with medical and educational implications. Dowsett EG, Colby J. Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome 1997; 3(2): 29-42.
Abstract: A study was made to determine whether the recognition of multiple cases of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) in one school is a unique experience. A five-year retrospective period prevalence survey (1991-1995) was collated from sequential reports made in six English Local Education Authority (LEA) areas. By means of a confidential questionnaire circulated to 2,942 school principals via internal mail, 1,098 schools, comprising 27,327 staff and 333,024 pupils, were investigated. Details were obtained on age, gender, location in school sector, work pattern and morbidity. Forty-two percent of all medically certified long-term sickness absence was ascribed to ME/CFS, this figure being well in excess of all other causes. This diagnosis was significantly associated with case clustering, variable geographical prevalence, a marked increase in the female:male case ratio at puberty and prolonged disturbance of educational potential. We conclude that ME/CFS in schools leads to serious economic and career problems> Redirection of research to special educational needs and to early diagnosis of infectious agents which can trigger ME/CFS in schools might prevent, at low cost, much chronic illness and education deficit.
NeuroSPECT findings in children with chronic fatigue syndrome. Goldberg MD, Mena I, Darcourt J. Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome 1997; 3(1): 61-67.
Abstract: BACKGROUND. NeuroSPECT studies have described specific abnormalities in cerebral perfusion in adults with criteria for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. This reports findings in 13 children with criteria for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. OBJECTIVE. NeuroSPECT findings in 13 CFS/CFIDS children. METHODS. Thirteen children meeting CDC criteria for CFS/CFIDS were evaluated using NeuroSPECT imaging utilizing Xenon 133 and Tc-99m-HMPAO (1). RESULTS. In 13 children, hypoperfusion was observed at 42 ± 10 ml/min/100g, p<0.0001 in the left temporal lobe and at 45 ± 11, p<.001 in right temporal lobe. Statistically significant hypoperfusion was also obsered in both parietal lobes and at 50 and 53 ml/min/100g, p< 0.05 in the frontal lobe of the right hemisphere. Quantitated HMPAO demonstrated bilateral orbitofrontal and anterior temporal hypoperfusion. There was also hypoperfusion in the dorsal aspects of both frontal lobes and both parietooccipital lobes. CONCLUSION. NeuroSPECT is presented as a quantifiable, reproducible tool that can allow us to document a cohort of children defined as CFS/CFIDS.
CFS In Adolescents: Spectrum of Illness by Dr David Bell
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) has been documented to occur in children and adolescents, but there has been ongoing confusion concerning incidence, clinical manifestations, and severity. The majority of paediatricians believe that if CFS exists at all, it is a short lived, perhaps trivial condition, and a manifestation of psychiatric illness. Many paediatricians would argue that CFS should not be diagnosed in children because the diagnosis will "cause" the illness to persist. This underlying assumption concerning the trivial nature of CFS and the minor impact on a child's life are not consistent with natural history of the illness as seen by clinicians.
The assumption of the benign nature of paediatric CFS has resulted in little attention paid to children and adolescents with this illness, and no paediatric diagnostic criteria have been developed. While it is possible that CFS can be mild and resolve completely in some young persons, there is a wide spectrum of illness severity, and severe cases exist.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Abnormal Biological Rhythms in School Children Akemi Tomoda, MD; Takako Jhodoi, MD; Teruhisa Miike, MD Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Vol. 8 (2) 2001, pp. 29-37 Department of Child Development, Kumamoto University School of Medicine, Japan.
Address correspondence to: Dr. Akemi Tomoda, Department of Child Development, Kumamoto University School of Medicine, 1 - 1 - 1 Honjo, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan (E-mail: tomo@kaiju.medic.kumamoto-u.ac.jp).
ABSTRACT. Chronic fatigue syndrome occurring in previously healthy children and adolescents is one of the most vexing problems encountered by pediatric practitioners. To investigate the biological rhythms in the pediatric patients with CFS, we examined sleep pattern, circadian rhythm of core body temperature (CBT), and plasma cortisol in 41 patients, aged between 10 and 19 years, who did not have any physical or psychiatric disorders, but had non-specific complaints, and were suspected to have a circadian rhythm disturbance. They were diagnosed as having CFS on the basis of published criteria.
Circadian variation of CBT in the CFS patients did not present a clear rhythm, and appearance time of their lowest CBT was significantly delayed compared to healthy subjects. Amplitude of circadian CBT changes, fitted to a cosinor curve by the least square method, was significantly smaller in the patients than in healthy subjects. Moreover, circadian rhythm of plasma cortisol in the patients appeared to be quite different, compared to healthy subjects. These findings suggest that their clinical psychosomatic symptoms (e.g., fatigue and sleep disturbance) might be closely related to the desynchronization of their biorhythms, particularly the circadian rhythm of body temperature and cortisol rhythm.
Thirteen-Year Follow-Up of Children and Adolescents With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Objective. To describe the educational, social, and symptomatic outcome of children and adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome 13 years after illness onset.
Methods. Between January 1984 and December 1987, 46 children and adolescents developed an illness suggestive of chronic fatigue syndrome. Follow-up questionnaires were obtained from 35 participants an average of 13 years after illness onset. Data were obtained concerning subsequent medical diagnoses, amount of school missed, presence and severity of current symptoms, and subjective assessment of degree of illness resolution.
Results. Of the 35 participants, 24 were female (68.6%) and 11 were male (31.4%). Average age at illness onset was 12.1 years. Eight participants (22.9%) had an acute onset of symptoms, 27 (77.1%) had a gradual onset. No participant received an alternative medical diagnosis that could have explained the symptom complex between illness onset and follow-up. Thirteen participants (37.1%) considered themselves resolved of illness at follow-up; 15 participants (42.9%) considered themselves well but not resolved; 4 (11.4%) considered themselves chronically ill; and 3 (8.6%) considered themselves more ill than during the early years of illness. Correlation with the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form Health Survey was good for current level of symptoms and degree of recovery. Eight participants (22.9%) missed >2 years of school, and 5 of these were still ill at follow-up. Amount of school missed correlated with both illness severity at follow-up and perceived social impact of the illness.
Conclusions. These data demonstrate the presence of an illness consistent with the current definition of chronic fatigue syndrome. Eighty percent of children and adolescents affected had a satisfactory outcome from their fatiguing illness, although the majority of these participants had mild to moderate persisting symptoms. Twenty percent of participants remain ill with significant symptoms and activity limitation 13 years after illness onset. Chronic fatigue syndrome in children and adolescents may result in persistent somatic symptoms and disability in a minority of those affected.
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M.E. and Children - Political
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Relevant Books
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*O* What is ME? What is CFS? Information for Clinicians and Lawyers (Online format and printed format) by Professor Malcolm Hooper, Margaret Williams and Eileen Marshall
*O* Stricken: Voices from the Hidden Epidemic of CFIDS edited by Peggy Munson
*O* Shattered: Life with ME by Lynn Michell
Available for purchase from MERGE at www.meresearch.org.uk
ME: The New Plague by Jane Colby
Note: Links given with certain book titles are for informational purposes only and are not recommendations of any particular book seller. It is recommended that you shop around for the best prices at a number of stores for any books you might wish to purchase.
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