(NAPSA)—You’ve probably seen the many commercials for fibromyalgia drugs on TV. They usually feature middle-aged women describing unexplained aches and pains. Although fibromyalgia most often affects adults, it Prevalence of Fibromyalgia in Adolescents Lynne Matallana, founder of the National Fibromyalgia Association (NFA), is all too familiar with the difficulties that teens with fibromyalgia and their parents face. “Very little research has been done on fibromyalgia in children can also develop in childhood and go undiagnosed for and teens,” Matallana said. “Current clinical trials, like years in patients who often suffer in silence. the MyFi study for teenAccording to the Ameriagers, help in the search to find a safe and effective can College of Rheumatology (ACR), juvenile primary treatment for JPFS.” fibromyalgia syndrome Parents who are aware (JPFS) typically develops of a family history of fibromyalgia, especially between the ages of 13 and among female family mem15, although the symptoms can develop muchearlier. bers, should be watchful for Children and teens with the signs and symptoms in JPFS feel pain that intertheir children. Blood relaferes with daily life and tives of patients with fibromyalgia have a higher often have difficulty sleeping. Although it’s not Although it’s not entirely clear how many children prevalence of the disease entirely clear how many are affected by JPFS, the ACRestimatesthatitis and tend to be moresensichildren are affected by anywhere between 2 percent and 7.5 percentof tive to pain than the genJPFS, the ACR estimates children in North America and Europe. @ eral population. Because of the lack of that it is anywhere between Because their symptomsare so 2 percent and 7.5 percent of chiltreatment options for JPFS, clinivague, teens with JPFS are often cal trials for potential drugs are dren in North America and Europe. The symptomscan be so severe told by physicians that they are currently under way to determine that adolescents with JPFS miss a experiencing growing painsor suf- if they are safe and effective for lot of time in school and withdraw fering from depression. It can take teens. The MyFi study for teens with from social activities. The Journal years for teens to get an accurate of Pediatric Psychology recently diagnosis. What’s worse, even fibromyalgia is currently recruitreported that the rate of home- once they are diagnosed properly, ing patients at study sites across schooling among teens with there are no medications approved the United States. For more inforfibromyalgia was more than 10 by the FDA for the treatment of mation on this research, please percent higher than the national fibromyalgia in patients younger visit www.MyFiTrial.com or than 18. average of about 2 percent. call (866) 692-1317.
