Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 16, 2025
10:31
A Multi-Modal Approach to Assessing Recovery in Youth Athletes Following Concussion
Published on: September 25, 2014
13.5K
Fatigue in children and adolescents after burns: evaluating the problem using longitudinal data
Jessica J J Cramer-Kruit1, Moniek Akkerman2,3, Leonora J Mouton4
1Scientific Institute, Martini Hospital, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Disability and Rehabilitation
|September 19, 2023
Summary
Pediatric burn survivors often experience persistent fatigue for months post-discharge. This fatigue
Area of Science:
- Pediatric rehabilitation
- Burn recovery
- Clinical outcomes
Background:
- Burn injuries in children and adolescents can lead to long-term sequelae.
- Fatigue is a common but often under-recognized symptom following severe illness or injury.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence and severity of fatigue in pediatric burn patients up to six months after hospital discharge.
- To identify factors associated with fatigue and its relationship with exercise capacity.
Main Methods:
- The Pediatric-Quality-of-Life-Inventory-Multidimensional-Fatigue-Scale (PedsQL-MFS) was used to assess fatigue in 22 pediatric burn patients.
- Assessments were conducted at discharge and at six weeks, three months, and six months post-discharge.
Main Results:
- Fatigue prevalence decreased from 65% at discharge to 28% at six months.
- Fatigue severity improved over time, reaching reference values by six weeks.
- Individual fatigue trajectories varied, and severity at six months was not predictable by age, sex, or burn severity.
Conclusions:
- A significant portion of pediatric burn survivors experience fatigue for at least six months post-discharge.
- Fatigue should be routinely monitored in pediatric burn patients, as its severity is unpredictable.
- Burn-related fatigue may not solely stem from reduced exercise capacity.
Related Concept Videos
02:20Longitudinal Research
12.0K
Sometimes we want to see how people change over time, as in studies of human development and lifespan. When we test the same group of individuals repeatedly over an extended period of time, we are conducting longitudinal research. Longitudinal research is a research design in which data-gathering is administered repeatedly over an extended period of time. For example, we may survey a group of individuals about their dietary habits at age 20, retest them a decade later at age 30, and then again...
12.0K
01:21Fatigue
204
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...
204
01:24Muscle Recovery and Fatigue
2.2K
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...
2.2K
01:26Longitudinal Studies
186
Longitudinal studies are also widely used in other medical and social science fields. For instance, in cardiovascular research, they can monitor patients' health over decades to identify risk factors for heart disease, such as high cholesterol or smoking, and evaluate the long-term effectiveness of preventive measures. Similarly, in mental health studies, researchers might follow individuals from adolescence into adulthood to understand the development and progression of conditions like...
186
01:22Burn Injuries
2.5K
Burn injuries occur when the skin and underlying tissues are damaged due to exposure to heat, electricity, chemicals, radiation, or friction. They can vary in severity, from minor superficial burns to severe deep burns that can be life-threatening.
The damage results in the death of skin cells, which can lead to a massive loss of fluid. Dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and renal and circulatory failure follow, which can be fatal. Burn patients are treated with intravenous fluids to offset...
The damage results in the death of skin cells, which can lead to a massive loss of fluid. Dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and renal and circulatory failure follow, which can be fatal. Burn patients are treated with intravenous fluids to offset...
2.5K