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Many children (and adults) do recover from CFS. However, there is no standard duration
for the illness. In the few published studies that have looked at outcomes of pediatric
CFS this is what they have found:
- 8%-27% percent of children with CFS "recovered"
- 27%-46% percent improved
- 12%-29% percent remained unchanged from the onset of the illness
- The majority of children with CFS (up to 94%) experience worsening of their
school performance due to the physical and cognitive symptoms.
- 20% to 44% percent of children with CFS must be home schooled because they are too
ill to attend classes.
Children with CFS who cannot attend school miss out on important social
development opportunities. They can be classified as disabled and may be
entitled to educational services under the Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act and/or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
To date, only a few studies have attempted to document the natural history and
long-term outcome of pediatric CFS/ME, both in terms of health status and
psychosocial morbidity. In general, the physical outcome of CFS/ME in these studies
(ie, mean time since initial evaluation; range of 1.6-3.8 y) was favorable, with most
patients reporting either resolution or improvement in their symptoms; however, a
sizable proportion of these patients reported continued symptoms and significant
functional limitations. As in many chronic diseases, children with CFS/ME face
significant functional limitations (eg, frequent absences from school, disruptions in
social activities, adjustments in family dynamics) surrounding the symptoms and
treatment of their illness.
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