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What Causes Severe Fatigue In A Teenager?
Question: I have a 13 year old daughter who always complains of being tired. She was recently checked for diabetes and the tests were negative. Other than always complaining of being tired, she is healthy and active, although she does have some allergies.
Recently I noticed she breathes heavily while sleeping. Do you think she could benefit from a sleep study?
Recently I noticed she breathes heavily while sleeping. Do you think she could benefit from a sleep study?
Brief Answer:
How about other tests
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for submitting your question to Healthcaremagic. You mention her being tested for diabetes.
Aside from being tired does she have other suspicious symptoms for diabetes mellitus? I would also submit your daughter for bloodwork checking the thyroid and parathyroid glands as well as checking her blood for a CBC since other issues can certainly cause fatigue in a 13 year old that are more common than diabetes. Perhaps, medications for her allergies are contributing to her sense of fatigue and lethargy. I would also consider calcium levels in serum and inflammatory markers such as a sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein (ESR and CRP).
I wouldn't think of a sleep study right away unless you have either witnessed sleep apnea in her (actual breathing arrest while asleep) or she has associated comorbidities such as obesity, family history of sleep disturbances such as sleep apnea, or excessive daytime sleepiness, or falls asleep exceedingly quickly when she goes to bed (5 min. or less as an estimate).
Breathing heavily is not really the same as snoring which clearly suggests an obstructive process to airflow of some sort.
There are also psychological reasons for complaints of fatigue in teenagers that should be screened for if nothing organic is apparent after a complete workup. Although teenagers are known to sleep many more hours daily than adults/parents would like them to do (LOL)....I don't think the simple process of maturation is considered a condition associated with complaints of chronic or constant fatigue. Normally, even though a teenager may stay in bed up to 12 hrs. or longer...chances are when they wake up....they feel well rested and ready to go. That sounds different from your daughter.
I hope this addresses your concerns and that you'll keep me in mind for future questions regarding these or other neurological/medical issues I may be able to help answer.
I'd appreciate your rating this interaction on a HIGH STAR SCALE if you found the information informative and would be grateful for a few words of feedback.
Write to me at: bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi for additional comments, concerns, or to provide status updates if possible. I'd like to know how things turn out for your daughter as the information may help guide opinions in patients with similar issues.
All the best to you during these holidays!
This consult request has taken a total of 18 minutes of time to read, research, and respond.
How about other tests
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for submitting your question to Healthcaremagic. You mention her being tested for diabetes.
Aside from being tired does she have other suspicious symptoms for diabetes mellitus? I would also submit your daughter for bloodwork checking the thyroid and parathyroid glands as well as checking her blood for a CBC since other issues can certainly cause fatigue in a 13 year old that are more common than diabetes. Perhaps, medications for her allergies are contributing to her sense of fatigue and lethargy. I would also consider calcium levels in serum and inflammatory markers such as a sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein (ESR and CRP).
I wouldn't think of a sleep study right away unless you have either witnessed sleep apnea in her (actual breathing arrest while asleep) or she has associated comorbidities such as obesity, family history of sleep disturbances such as sleep apnea, or excessive daytime sleepiness, or falls asleep exceedingly quickly when she goes to bed (5 min. or less as an estimate).
Breathing heavily is not really the same as snoring which clearly suggests an obstructive process to airflow of some sort.
There are also psychological reasons for complaints of fatigue in teenagers that should be screened for if nothing organic is apparent after a complete workup. Although teenagers are known to sleep many more hours daily than adults/parents would like them to do (LOL)....I don't think the simple process of maturation is considered a condition associated with complaints of chronic or constant fatigue. Normally, even though a teenager may stay in bed up to 12 hrs. or longer...chances are when they wake up....they feel well rested and ready to go. That sounds different from your daughter.
I hope this addresses your concerns and that you'll keep me in mind for future questions regarding these or other neurological/medical issues I may be able to help answer.
I'd appreciate your rating this interaction on a HIGH STAR SCALE if you found the information informative and would be grateful for a few words of feedback.
Write to me at: bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi for additional comments, concerns, or to provide status updates if possible. I'd like to know how things turn out for your daughter as the information may help guide opinions in patients with similar issues.
All the best to you during these holidays!
This consult request has taken a total of 18 minutes of time to read, research, and respond.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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