Knight, Sarah, Elders, Shane, Rodda, Jill et al. · Archives of disease in childhood · 2019 · DOI
This study looked at how many Australian children develop ME/CFS and what their experiences are like. Researchers tracked newly diagnosed cases over one year and found that the condition is quite rare in children under 10, but becomes more common in teenagers. Interestingly, the rates were very different depending on where children lived in Australia, suggesting some areas may be better at recognizing and diagnosing the condition than others.
Understanding how common ME/CFS is in children and adolescents helps healthcare systems allocate resources appropriately and identify underdiagnosed populations. The striking regional differences suggest that many children may be missed or misdiagnosed due to poor access to specialists or lack of clinician awareness—highlighting the need for better training and more equitable care pathways.
This study does not establish the true prevalence of ME/CFS in Australian children, only paediatrician-diagnosed cases—meaning the actual number of affected children is likely higher due to underdiagnosis and the reliance on specialist referral pathways. The regional variation does not prove differences in disease incidence; it more likely reflects differences in healthcare access, specialist availability, and clinician familiarity with the condition. The study also cannot determine causation for post-infectious presentation patterns.
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 →
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