Fibromyalgia Symptoms in Children

Fibromyalgia is a painful musculoskeletal condition that affects over five million people in the United States alone. Most children begin to show signs of fibromyalgia during puberty, with girls developing it more often than boys. The most prevalent symptoms that children with fibromyalgia experience are sleep disorders, pain and fatigue, but there are other important symptoms related to fibromyalgia.

Sleep Problems

• Children with fibromyalgia often have sleep issues. They may struggle to fall asleep, complain of never getting enough sleep, and exhibit tiredness or depression from lack of sleep. Sometimes the sleep issues are a result of restless leg syndrome.

Pain

• Children with fibromyalgia can have acute and widespread pain that is often mistaken for growing pains. They may describe this pain as stiffness in the muscles or a burning and aching sensation.

Fatigue

• A child with fibromyalgia will experience fatigue and an overall tiredness either from the chronic pain or the sleep disturbances. Fatigue will affect other aspects of the child's life, and is one of the most prevalent symptoms of fibromyalgia.

State of Mind

• Children with fibromyalgia may experience anxiety, depression and moodiness from the pain and fatigue they experience. They may also have trouble with concentration.

Other Symptoms

• While the symptoms above are the most common, children with fibromyalgia may also experience a sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures, headaches, tenderness in the lymph nodes and abdominal distress.

Treatment

• Treatment for fibromyalgia in children is usually a combination of aerobic exercise, therapy, diet and medication. Some children outgrow fibromyalgia as they develop.