tkgoodspirit

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Here is some info about JPFS. I just thought it was time to bring it up again, because of the increasing amount of "young people" with this condition.

We had a thread awhile ago that discussed this, and there really isn't much info out there about JPFS, so obviously it needs to be further researched.

I remember when I was younger, those "growing pains" we all felt as a kid...well some research indicates that this could be a small sign of JPFS, as well as young folks falling asleep in class. Our society is so quick to slap and ADD tag on some of these kids who maybe, just maybe, are showing signs of JPFS.

Anyway, here is some of the information I have regarding JPFS:

Fibromyalgia in teenagers is being increasingly recognized.

Fibromyalgia in children; diagnosis and treatment.

Fifteen children (16 years and younger, 10 females, 5 males, mean age 13 years) with juvenile primary fibromyalgia syndrome (JPFS) were seen in a private rheumatology practice over two years. This represented 45 percent of the total number of pediatric rheumatology patients.

Symptoms included polymyalgias, polyarthralgias, nonrestorative sleep, difficulty concentrating in school and fatigue. Examination revealed typical tender points, absence of joint swelling, synovitis or nodules and absence of neurological findings. Dolorimetry was abnormal and standard laboratory tests were normal.

Most of these patients (67 percent) had seen three or more doctors prior to their rheumatological evaluation and not (60 percent) were told they had juvenile chronic arthritis. Other diagnoses offered were "growing pains" (20 percent), hysteria (7 percent) and psychological problems (7 percent).

None of the JPFS patients responded to salicylate or other anti-inflammatory medication. Most (73 percent) responded to cyclobenzaprine, mean dose 12.75 mg. (range 5-25 mg. qhs). JPFS is a very common pediatric rheumatologic problem and is confused with other disorders. Reassurance is very important in the therapy since many parents are fearful that their children may have a potentially crippling disorder. Medication, especially with tricyclics, moderate exercise and proper sleep are also mainstays of therapy.

Non-specific musculoskeletal pain in preadolescents. Prevalence and 1-year persistence.
A 1-year follow-up study of 1756 third- and fifth-grade schoolchildren was conducted with a structured pain questionnaire to assess the prevalence and persistence of self-reported musculoskeletal pain symptoms and disability caused by pain. At follow-up, 1626 (92.7%) children participated in the study.

Pain at least once a week persisted in 270 (52.4%) of the 564 children who reported musculoskeletal pain at least once a week in at least one part of the body at baseline. Of the regional pain symptoms, neck pain had highest persistence and, in girls, significantly more than in boys. Persistence of pain was not related to school grade.

Widespread pain, determined as in the criteria for fibromyalgia, was found in 132 children (7.5%) and persisted in 35 children (29.7%, 95% CI 21.9-38.4)at follow-up.***I am not quite sure what these numbers indicate nor what the CI 21.9-38.4 means, sorry.*** Disability was more severe in children with pain symptoms in more than one area.
This study showed that about half of the preadolescents complaining of musculoskeletal pain at least once a week at baseline had persistent pain symptoms at follow-up. The prognosis of widespread pain in preadolescents was almost the same as the previous findings in adults.

And finally:

Primary juvenile fibromyalgia syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome in adolescents.

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and primary juvenile fibromyalgia syndrome (PJFS) are illnesses with a similar pattern of symptoms of unknown etiology. Twenty-seven children for whom CFS was diagnosed were evaluated for fibromyalgia by the presence of widespread pain and multiple tender points. Eight children (29.6%) fulfilled criteria for fibromyalgia. Those children who met fibromyalgia criteria had a statistically greater degree of subjective muscle pain, sleep disturbance, and neurological symptoms than did those who did not meet the fibromyalgia criteria. There was no statistical difference between groups in degree of fatigue, headache, sore throat, abdominal pain, depression, lymph node pain, concentration difficulty, eye pain, and joint pain. CFS in children and PJFS appear to be overlapping clinical entities and may be indistinguishable by current diagnostic criteria.



Okay, there ya have it. Hopefully there will be more research done regarding FM in our youth (school age). It just seems that more and more is being "uncovered" regarding FM and it's many many facets!

Hugs to all,
tk