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What are the Causes of Fatigue in Children?

Rebecca Harkin
Rebecca Harkin

Fatigue in children can be caused by improper diet, poor sleep habits, stress, medical conditions such as anemia and thyroid disorders, or chronic infections such as walking pneumonia and mononucleosis. When a child suffers from abnormal fatigue, it is best to first evaluate his diet and sleep patterns, and monitor him for any evidence of unusual daily stress. If these observations do not suggest a problem, then the child should be then be watched for any signs of a medical issue and be seen by a pediatrician.

Upon noticing fatigue in children, the first problem to watch for is an improper diet consisting of junk food, which is void of the nutritional energy found in fruits, vegetables, and low-fat, high quality proteins. Changing eating habits and taking a multi-vitamin can often alleviate fatigue. Lack of sleep is another reason for fatigue in children. A child should be on a regular routine, which includes a reasonable bedtime with 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night for most children, and up to twelve hours for toddlers. Stress can lead to fatigue in children, so the parent should watch for signs of stress such as mood swings, irritability, bedwetting, and increased nail biting or thumb sucking.

Inadequate sleep can cause children to become fatigued.
Inadequate sleep can cause children to become fatigued.

Chronic infections can place a great deal of stress on the body and produce fatigue in children. Children are susceptible to walking pneumonia, and fatigue is a common symptom along with complaints of feeling cold, headaches, persistent runny nose, and aches in the abdomen, ears, eyes, muscles, and chest. Fatigue is also one of the most common symptoms of mononucleosis. Other signs of mononucleosis are headaches, sore throat, chills, fever, muscle aches, and swollen lymph nodes. If the child is suffering from fatigue and any of these symptoms are observed, a pediatrician should be seen.

Running and playing all day can make a toddler tired.
Running and playing all day can make a toddler tired.

Anemia is a deficiency of red blood cells and fatigue is a primary symptom. When anemia is suspected, the child should also be watched for rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, poor focus, dizziness, leg cramps, and pale skin. Fatigue is a common symptom of both hypothyroidism, a low-functioning thyroid, and hyperthyroidism, an abnormally high-functioning thyroid. Other symptoms of hypothyroidism include weight gain, being cold all the time, torpid thinking, and constipation, while symptoms of hyperthyroidism include nervousness, irritability, rapid heartbeat, and weight loss. Thyroid disease is treated most often with prescription medication and periodic blood tests to monitor thyroid hormone levels.

Discussion Comments

browncoat

@clintflint - Honestly, even a bad diet wouldn't slow down most of the kids I know. If your kid is suddenly showing weakness or fatigue then I would take them to the doctor straight away. It's probably a symptom of something else and anything that is strong enough to get a kid to slow down could be serious.

clintflint

@Mor - As long as people are careful with a diet like that there shouldn't be any problems. Dogs and cats are naturally carnivorous, so feeding them an all vegetable diet isn't going to be good for them. But humans are omnivorous and, in theory, a vegetarian diet can provide everything a child needs.

I actually think the greater danger comes from people not providing them with wholesome foods and enough exercise. Kids are naturally very active and if you notice chronic fatigue in children it generally means that something is seriously wrong. If you've been allowing them to eat constant junk food and never get enough exercise you can cause serious long term damage.

I'm not one of those people who thinks kids should never be allowed to eat sweets. But make sure they eat apples as well.

Mor

One thing that is important to remember is that children aren't going to be able to follow the same diets as their parents without different consequences. If you want your child to be on a vegetarian or vegan diet you have to be extremely vigilant about making sure they are getting enough of what they need. If they have constant fatigue, then you aren't doing it right.

I've never personally witnessed a child being abused in that way, but I have seen pets that were kept on a vegetarian diet and they almost always look on the verge of getting sick.

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    • Inadequate sleep can cause children to become fatigued.
      By: Susan Stevenson
      Inadequate sleep can cause children to become fatigued.
    • Running and playing all day can make a toddler tired.
      By: Jaimie Duplass
      Running and playing all day can make a toddler tired.
    • Mononucleosis can cause fatigue and fever in children.
      By: kmiragaya
      Mononucleosis can cause fatigue and fever in children.
    • If a child is showing signs or symptoms of mononucleosis, a pediatrician should be seen.
      By: Magalice
      If a child is showing signs or symptoms of mononucleosis, a pediatrician should be seen.
    • White meat chicken is a good source of protein, which may help to alleviate fatigue in children.
      By: Viktor
      White meat chicken is a good source of protein, which may help to alleviate fatigue in children.
    • A child who suffers from fatigue along with muscle aches and fever should be seen by a pediatrician.
      By: Darren Baker
      A child who suffers from fatigue along with muscle aches and fever should be seen by a pediatrician.
    • It may be possible to reduce fatigue in children if they eat a healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables.
      By: szeyuen
      It may be possible to reduce fatigue in children if they eat a healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables.
    • Fatigue in children may be caused by poor sleep habits, among other factors.
      By: Oksana Kuzmina
      Fatigue in children may be caused by poor sleep habits, among other factors.
    • Thumb sucking can be a sign of stress in children that can lead to fatigue.
      By: Jaimie Duplass
      Thumb sucking can be a sign of stress in children that can lead to fatigue.