Management of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis in a pediatric population: A scoping review

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Health
• Neurology
• Psychology

Background:

• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) significantly impacts children's quality of life.
• Research on pediatric CFS/ME is scarce, with most studies focusing on adults.
• Understanding pediatric CFS/ME is crucial, as up to 2% of children may be affected.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review of research on nutrition, exercise, and psychosocial factors in pediatric CFS/ME.
• To identify key themes and treatment approaches for children and adolescents with CFS/ME.
• To highlight gaps in the literature, particularly concerning prepubescent populations.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review methodology was employed, utilizing the PRISMA extension and Arksey and O'Malley's framework.
• Peer-reviewed research investigating nutrition, exercise, and psychosocial factors in pediatric CFS/ME was systematically searched.
• Studies focused on individuals diagnosed with CFS/ME under the age of 18.

Main Results:

• Nutrition was explored as a symptom-reducing tool, but studies on deficiency or specific treatments in children were limited.
• Graded exercise and resistance training demonstrated improvements in fatigue severity and depression symptoms in adolescents.
• Psychosocial factors were identified as potential contributors to diagnosis and barriers to treatment.
• Multifaceted treatments, including graded activity, CBT, nutritional advice, and family sessions, improved school attendance and reduced fatigue severity in adolescents.

Conclusions:

• Pediatric CFS/ME requires further investigation, especially in prepubescent children.
• Exercise and psychosocial interventions show promise for managing CFS/ME symptoms in adolescents.
• Comprehensive, multifaceted treatment approaches are beneficial for improving outcomes in pediatric CFS/ME.