Differential diagnoses with Pediatric ME/CFS

Often pediatric ME/CFS is misdiagnosed as a psychiatric or behavioral disorder. These disorders include depression, anxiety, and school phobia—among others. However, a child or adolescent may actually have these disorders rather than pediatric ME/CFS.

It is critical for the diagnosing physician to determine if the child or adolescent actually has pediatric ME/CFS (even if these psychiatric or behavioral disorders coexist with the illness), or if the child does not have pediatric ME/CFS but is suffering exclusively with a psychiatric and/or behavioral disorder.