Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 26, 2026

The Treadmill Fatigue Test: A Simple, High-throughput Assay of Fatigue-like Behavior for the Mouse
09:25

The Treadmill Fatigue Test: A Simple, High-throughput Assay of Fatigue-like Behavior for the Mouse

Published on: May 31, 2016

Changes in children's fatigue during the course of treatment for paediatric cancer

P Perdikaris1, A Merkouris, E Patiraki

  • 1General Children's Hospital 'P & A Kyriakou', Athens, Greece. pantperd@panafonet.gr

International Nursing Review
|January 17, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Cancer treatment significantly increases fatigue in children, with medical procedures and hospital stays being key contributors. This under-diagnosed symptom requires greater clinical attention for pediatric cancer patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Oncology
  • Child Psychology
  • Cancer Symptom Management

Background:

  • Fatigue is a distressing yet under-recognized symptom in pediatric cancer patients.
  • Limited clinical attention has been given to fatigue during childhood cancer treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate changes in fatigue scores from children's perspectives during cancer therapy.
  • To identify children's perceived causes of fatigue during cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective study involving 40 children (aged 7-12) undergoing cancer treatment.
  • Data collected via the Child Fatigue Scale and sociodemographic forms post-parental consent.

Main Results:

  • A statistically significant increase in fatigue scores was observed during cancer treatment.
  • Female gender was associated with a significant increase in fatigue scores.

Conclusions:

  • Cancer treatment demonstrably elevates fatigue levels in children.
  • Medical procedures and the hospital environment are identified as primary causes of fatigue in pediatric cancer patients.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Evaluating the Role of Mitochondrial Function in Cancer-related Fatigue08:56

Evaluating the Role of Mitochondrial Function in Cancer-related Fatigue

Published on: May 17, 2018

A Mouse Model of Fatigue Induced by Peripheral Irradiation04:15

A Mouse Model of Fatigue Induced by Peripheral Irradiation

Published on: March 17, 2017

Related Concept Videos

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion01:26

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses a challenge in...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution01:17

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution

Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight, compared...
Muscle Recovery and Fatigue01:24

Muscle Recovery and Fatigue

Muscle fatigue refers to the decline in a muscle's ability to maintain the force of contraction after prolonged activity. It primarily stems from changes within muscle fibers. Even before experiencing muscle fatigue, one may feel tired and have the urge to stop the activity. This response, known as central fatigue, occurs due to changes in the central nervous system, namely the brain and spinal cord. While there is no single mechanism that induces fatigue, it may serve as a protective response...
Fatigue01:21

Fatigue

Fatigue occurs when materials rupture under repeated or fluctuating loads, even at stress levels far below their static breaking strength. It typically results in brittle failure, even for ductile materials. It is a critical consideration in designing machines and structural components subjected to repetitive or varying loads. The nature of these loadings can range from fluctuating loads like unbalanced pump impellers causing vibrations to repeatedly bending a thin steel rod wire back and forth...