Young Teens and the Diagnosis of Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a debilitating disease that is very complicated to diagnose. Its symptoms include muscle and skeletal pain, fatigue, headaches, body aches, sleep disturbances, and depression. Adult women are most commonly believed to be at greatest risk. However, young teens are now being diagnosed with this condition at a growing rate.

There could be a few reasons for this. There is popular opinion that what was once believed to be growing pains could in fact be fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia in young teens is also called Primary Juvenile Fibromyalgia Syndrome. It is believed to be a previously unrecognized form of fibromyalgia. Children and young teens are difficult to diagnose with this syndrome as it is very misunderstood. It is a difficult diagnosis for adults, possibly taking as many as 5 years to get an accurate diagnosis.

Children and teens, like adults, have a gradual onset of symptoms. Children tend to have less consistent symptoms and many of their symptoms are dismissed as school stress, ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder), CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, MS (Multiple Sclerosis), Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Myofascial Pain Syndrome, and growing pains. Many of the symptoms for these syndromes exist in an overlapping continuum, making diagnosis difficult.

The recent attention on the possibility that young people can get this disease has resulted in more young teens being diagnosed with it, instead of other disorders with similar symptoms. With continued support to the study of fibromyalgia, young teens and children that suffer from this disease can continue to be diagnosed. The result would be better treatment and relief for those struggling with such a painful and debilitating disorder.