Jason, Leonard A, Katz, Ben Z, Mears, Cynthia et al. · Avicenna journal of neuropsychophysiology · 2015 · DOI
This study looked at how common ME/CFS is in children living in regular communities, not just in doctor's offices. Researchers used a two-step approach: first they screened children for ME/CFS-like symptoms, then they did detailed medical and mental health evaluations to confirm diagnoses. The study also compared children with ME/CFS to healthy children without the condition.
Accurate prevalence estimates of pediatric ME/CFS are essential for understanding disease burden, allocating healthcare resources, and identifying underdiagnosed populations. This study addresses a critical gap by examining ME/CFS in community settings rather than clinical populations, which may provide more representative estimates. Understanding how ME/CFS affects different demographic groups helps ensure equitable diagnosis and treatment access for all children.
This study does not establish actual prevalence rates of pediatric ME/CFS, as it describes methodology rather than reporting final results. It does not prove causation for any factors associated with ME/CFS, and the case studies presented are illustrative only, not generalizable findings. The study design cannot definitively determine why ME/CFS rates might differ across demographic groups.
About the PEM badge: “PEM required” means post-exertional malaise was an explicit required diagnostic criterion for participant inclusion in this study — not that PEM was studied, observed, or discussed. Studies using criteria that do not require PEM (e.g. Fukuda, Oxford) are tagged “PEM not required”. How the atlas works →
The first block is for the primary paper and is the citation you should use in research work. The atlas-snapshot line only applies if you are specifically referring to this atlas’s reading of the paper on the date shown.
Primary citation
Jason, Leonard A, Katz, Ben Z, Mears, Cynthia, Jantke, Rachel, Brown, Abby, Sunnquist, Madison, et al. (2015). Issues in Estimating Rates of Pediatric Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis in a Community-based Sample.. Avicenna journal of neuropsychophysiology. https://doi.org/10.17795/ajnpp-37281
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-jason-2015-issues-estimating,
author = {Jason, Leonard A and Katz, Ben Z and Mears, Cynthia and Jantke, Rachel and Brown, Abby and Sunnquist, Madison and O'Connor, Kelly},
title = {Issues in Estimating Rates of Pediatric Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis in a Community-based Sample.},
journal = {Avicenna journal of neuropsychophysiology},
year = {2015},
doi = {10.17795/ajnpp-37281},
note = {PubMed: 28261672},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/jason-2015-issues-estimating},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-29. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/jason-2015-issues-estimating
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