What are the symptoms?

The main symptom is extreme tiredness (fatigue) after little effort, which is not improved by rest, and not explained by physical or psychiatric illness. Chronic fatigue syndrome commonly starts with a short or sudden illness such as ‘flu’ or glandular fever, but it can also start gradually. It is a severely disabling condition that can often last a long time or comes and goes.

Common symptoms include:

Like other severe physical illnesses, chronic fatigue syndrome has some important emotional and psychological effects. The child may become depressed, irritable and anxious, and find it difficult to concentrate or remember things.

Chronic fatigue syndrome can be a difficult diagnosis to make. Children often receive repeated specialist medical investigations.

What are the effects of chronic fatigue syndrome?

The disorder can seriously disrupt normal life. Your child may be unable to:

School can be very difficult to cope with. Young people with chronic fatigue syndrome may quickly become very unfit from staying in bed, or just doing not very much for a long time. This causes rapid muscle loss, even in healthy people. All these complications make recovery more difficult.

Everyone in the family can feel the strain. Sometimes a parent may have to give up work to nurse their sick child. Brothers and sisters may feel that they are being neglected. Parents may disagree about whether the child is really sick, or is just ‘attention-seeking’.

How can I get help?

In the early stages of the illness, it may seem that no one knows what the problem is and how to solve it. This can upset the child, who may feel that no one believes that they are ill or understands them. Relationships can become strained at home and at school.

Your GP or school doctor will be able to refer your child to a paediatrician or child psychiatrist working in your local child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) for assessment and treatment. The school, especially the school nurse and psychologist, may need to support your child with problems at school.