Main description:

Help young CFS sufferers cope with this debilitating illness

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a debilitating illness that can have devastating effects for those afflicted, especially children and adolescents. Pediatric Chronic Fatigue Syndrome discusses this growing problem and its many facets in depth, including the mounting prevalence of incidents in the population and detailed explanations of diagnostic criteria. Case studies are provided to illustrate the issues those afflicted with CFS face, such as increasing isolation, decreasing school attendance, the length of time it typically takes to get diagnosed, and the impact on leisure activities.

Current criteria for CFS were designed for use in adults, with few studies done on assessing how appropriate these criteria are for children and adolescents. Pediatric Chronic Fatigue Syndrome provides the criteria for first-time diagnosis of pediatric CFS and includes practical recommendations developed by the International Association of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Pediatric Case Definition Working Group. This book closely examines the potential impact that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome has on child and adolescent functioning, psychological factors, social factors, and the suffering endured from symptoms. Guidelines are provided on ways ME-CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) can be addressed in primary practice.

Topics in Pediatric Chronic Fatigue Syndrome include:

ME/CFS

CACFS (Chronic Fatigues Syndrome in Children and Adolescents)

the common problem of Munchausen-by-proxy

research on the psychosocial, family, and physical functioning comparing children and adolescents with CFS and those without CFS

using theory in clinical practice

guidelines on how ME/CFS can be addressed in primary practice

overview of CFS aspects for healthcare professionals who may be called on to diagnose or treat the illness

and more

Pediatric Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is timely, important information for health professionals, researchers, counselors, caregivers, parents of children and adolescents with CFS, and patients with CFS.

Contents:

Foreword (Elke Van Hoof, Kenny De Meirleir, and Neil McGregor)
ORIGINAL RESEARCH
A Pediatric Case Definition for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (Leonard A. Jason, David S. Bell, Kathy Rowe, Elke L. S. Van Hoof, Karen Jordan, Charles Lapp, Alan Gurwitt, Teruhisa Miike, Susan Torres-Harding, and Kenny De Meirleir)
Pediatric Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Munchausen-by-Proxy: A Case Study (E. Van Hoof, P. Becker, and K. De Meirleir)
Psychosocial and Physical Impact of Chronic Fatigue in a Community-Based Sample of Children and Adolescents (Susan R. Torres-Harding, Karen Jordan, Leonard A. Jason, and Renee Arias)
SHORT ARTICLE
Prevalence of Pediatric Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in a Community-Based Sample (Karen M. Jordan, Leonard A. Jason, Cynthia J. Mears, Ben Z. Katz, Alfred Rademaker, Cheng-Fang Huang, Judith Richman, William McCready, Penny M. Ayers, and Kari K. Taylor)
THEORY USED IN CLINICAL PRACTICE
Guidelines for the Diagnosis of Pediatric Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Things Parents Need to Know (David S. Bell and E. Van Hoof)
Recognizing Pediatric CFS in the Primary Care Practice: A Practicing Clinician's Approach (Charles W. Lapp)
REVIEW
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in Children and Adolescents (James M. Oleske, Kenneth J. Friedman, Kenneth R. Kaufman, Donna Palumbo, Jonathan Sterling, and Terri Lynn Evans)
Index
Reference Notes Included