TITLE:
Early-Stage Juvenile Fibromyalgia in a 12-Year-Old Girl
AUTHORS:
Yoshihiko Sakurai
KEYWORDS:
Juvenile Fibromyalgia, Early Stage, Character Tendency, Psychological Stress, Initial Care
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Pediatrics,
Vol.5 No.4,
December
30,
2015
ABSTRACT: Juvenile fibromyalgia (JFM) is often diagnosed at a later stage.
Therefore, little is known about its early phase. A 12-year-old girl with
persistent lumbago without fever consulted an orthopedist, but imaging studies
showed no abnormalities and analgesics were ineffective. She therefore visited
our pediatric clinic. On digital palpation, she had pain in 13 of the 18 tender
point sites of fibromyalgia. The blood test results were unremarkable. A
medical interview revealed character tendencies
often seen in patients with JFM; she was serious-minded, uncompromising, and
showed excessive concern for others. Furthermore, psychological stress
for the approaching annual sports day might have built up. All factors
considered, early-stage JFM was the probable diagnosis. The patient accepted
the diagnosis and understood that the disease may be psychogenic. Getting
through the sports day cured her symptoms. This case highlights the importance
of initial care, including a detailed explanation, in those with JFM.