A recent study into Periodic Fever, Aphtous stomatitis, Pharyngitis and Adenitis (PFAPA) syndrome investigated the impact of the condition on children and found that is was associated with a reduction in health-related quality of life and an increase in fatigue. The study authors concluded, “The seriousness of PFAPA has probably been largely underestimated.” You can read the source study here, at the Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases.
About PFAPA
PFAPA is a common cause of periodic fever in children. It is characterised by recurring periods of fever and inflammation that last for around five days, with gaps of approximately three to eight weeks between each occurrence. The condition can also be associated with other symptoms, such as headaches, abdominal pain, and vomiting. Typically, PFAPA first occurs in children below the age of five and ends before adulthood.
The Study Methodology
The researchers used two self-report questionnaires from the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory to measure health-related quality of life and fatigue in 33 children with PFAPA. The answers were compared to those given by 27 children with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), a genetic condition that causes reoccurring fevers. According to the study authors, previous research has indicated that children with FMF have a lower health-related quality of life than healthy children.
The Results
The children with PFAPA scored consistently lower for quality of life compared to children with FMF. Children with PFAPA showed lower scores for physical health and, in the younger age group, for psychosocial health. In addition, they also showed worse scores of fatigue. This challenges the attitude that PFAPA syndrome is a ‘benign disease’ when compared to other reoccurring fever conditions since it ends before children become adults.
This study, combined with previous research, suggests that children with FMF have a lower health-related quality of life compared to healthy children, and that children with PFAPA have reduced health-related quality of life compared to children with FMF. However, little research has been done into how PFAPA impacts quality of life, and the stud authors write that further research is needed to validate these initial results.
