How fatigue is related to other somatic symptoms.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the relation between fatigue and somatic symptoms in healthy adolescents and adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalopathy (CFS/ME).


METHODS
Seventy two adolescents with CFS were compared within a cross-sectional study design with 167 healthy controls. Fatigue and somatic complaints were measured using self-report questionnaires, respectively the subscale subjective fatigue of the Checklist Individual Strength (CIS-20) and the Children's Somatization Inventory.


RESULTS
Healthy adolescents reported the same somatic symptoms as adolescents with CFS/ME, but with a lower score of severity. The top 10 somatic complaints were the same: low energy, headache, heaviness in arms/legs, dizziness, sore muscles, hot/cold spells, weakness in body parts, pain in joints, nausea/upset stomach, back pain. There was a clear positive relation between log somatic symptoms and fatigue (linear regression coefficient: 0.041 points log somatic complaints per score point fatigue, 95% CI 0.033 to 0.049) which did not depend on disease status.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest a continuum with a gradual transition from fatigue with associated symptoms in healthy adolescents to the symptom complex of CFS/ME.
van de Putte
E M
EM
Department of Paediatrics, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. E.vandePutte@umcutrecht.nl
Engelbert
R H H
RH
Kuis
W
W
Kimpen
J L L
JL
Uiterwaal
C S P M
CS
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005221:Fatigue / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*