Table 1

Characteristics of individuals who fulfil different duration and associated symptom criteria of disabling fatigue

Characteristic

"3 months plus disabling fatigue"

"Child like CFS"

"Adult like CFS"

Number of affected individuals

11

15

34

Male: Female ratio

1:2.3

1:2.0

1:2.7

Age of onset in months (SEM)

117.5 (20.4)

130.5 (11.1)

146.6 (8.1)

No of Days per week affected (SEM)

6.2 (0.5)

4.6 (0.5)

5.8 (0.3)

Total No of hrs resting and sleeping per day (SEM)

13.7 (0.8)

13.3 (0.8)

13.1 (1.1)

Global impairment score (SEM)

5.9 (0.4)

6.5 (0.3)

6.5 (0.2)

No of days per term absent from school during worst period

18.8 (13.2)

17.3 (4.7)

12.9 (2.7)

% who contacted their GP with regard to the fatigue

55%

73%

71%

% with DSM-IV clinical depression

44%

52%

53%

SEM = standard error of mean

Fowler et al. BMC Family Practice 2005 6:33   doi:10.1186/1471-2296-6-33