Symptoms

In some children, symptoms begin after a triggering event, such as physical trauma, surgery, infection or prolonged psychological stress. In other children, symptoms gradually accumulate over time with no single triggering event.

In children with fibromyalgia, signs and symptoms include:

• Widespread pain. The pain associated with fibromyalgia often is described as a dull ache that has lasted for at least three months. To be considered widespread, the pain must occur on both sides of your body and above and below your waist.
• Headache. Frequent headaches occur in a majority of children who have fibromyalgia.
• Sleep disturbances. Despite complaints of severe fatigue, these children often take an hour or more to fall asleep. Even when they do fall asleep, many have difficulty maintaining sleep and wake up during the night.
• Fatigue. People with fibromyalgia often awaken tired, even though they report sleeping for long periods of time. Many children with fibromyalgia have other sleep disorders, such as restless legs syndrome.
• Other problems. Children who have fibromyalgia may also have pain or cramping in the lower abdomen with constipation or diarrhea. They may also have trouble paying attention or concentrating. Depression and anxiety are common in people who have fibromyalgia.