Postinfectious fatigue in adolescents and physical activity

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Infectious Diseases
• Adolescent Health
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research

Background:

• Infectious mononucleosis (IM) is common in adolescents.
• Some adolescents develop persistent symptoms resembling chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).
• Understanding post-IM fatigue and activity patterns is crucial for this age group.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare fatigue severity and activity levels in adolescents who recover from acute infectious mononucleosis versus those who develop chronic fatigue syndrome.
• To analyze these differences before, during, and up to two years after infection.

Main Methods:

• Prospective case-control study involving 301 adolescents (aged 12-18) with acute IM.
• Matched cohorts: 39 adolescents meeting CFS criteria and 39 screened-negative controls.
• Evaluations at baseline, 6, 12, and 24 months using Fatigue Severity Scale and Modifiable Activity Questionnaire.

Main Results:

• Both groups showed decreased physical activity and increased sleep post-IM.
• Adolescents with CFS reported significantly higher fatigue and daytime sleep at 6 and 12 months.
• No significant difference in physical activity levels between groups, but a trend towards decreased activity in the CFS group.

Conclusions:

• Adolescents with CFS after IM exert significant effort to maintain peer activity levels.
• This effort leads to increased fatigue severity and a greater need for daytime sleep.
• Early identification and management of post-infectious fatigue in adolescents are warranted.