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Chronic fatigue in adolescents.

M S Smith1, J Mitchell, L Corey

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle.

Pediatrics
|August 1, 1991
PubMed
Summary

Chronic fatigue in adolescents often lacks clear infectious causes, with some cases linked to depression. Further research is needed to understand this complex condition.

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Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Medicine
  • Psychiatry
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Chronic fatigue is a significant issue in adolescents, often accompanied by other symptoms.
  • The etiology of adolescent chronic fatigue is poorly understood, with potential links to infectious, psychiatric, or psychosomatic factors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate potential infectious and psychiatric causes of chronic fatigue in adolescents.
  • To characterize symptoms and outcomes in a cohort of adolescents with persistent fatigue.

Main Methods:

  • Evaluated 15 adolescents (9 female, 6 male) with chronic fatigue using medical history, physical exams, and laboratory tests.
  • Conducted serologic testing for various viruses and Toxoplasma gondii.
  • Administered the Children's Depression Inventory and the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Children's Version (K-SADS) for psychiatric assessment.

Main Results:

  • Standard medical evaluations and serologic tests provided limited evidence for an infectious etiology.
  • Five subjects were diagnosed with major depression; others exhibited depressive symptoms without meeting full criteria.
  • Follow-up at 13–32 months showed varied outcomes, with some recovery and others persistent or worsened symptoms.

Conclusions:

  • Chronic fatigue in adolescents may be associated with depression or present as a distinct psychosomatic condition.
  • Further research is essential to differentiate between prodromal depression, psychosomatic disorders, and infectious/immunologic causes.
  • The study highlights the complexity of adolescent chronic fatigue and the need for comprehensive diagnostic approaches.

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