Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Related Post-Infectious and Dysautonomia-Associated Conditions: Insights Pertinent to Maternal–Child Health

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) represents a significant challenge within maternal and child health due to its chronic, multisystemic nature and its notable prevalence during women’s reproductive years. Increasingly, ME/CFS is understood within a broader spectrum of related post-infectious and autonomic conditions, including post-viral fatigue syndromes, post-acute infection syndromes such as Long COVID, and dysautonomia-related disorders such as postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), all of which share overlapping clinical and pathophysiological features.Although ME/CFS and related conditions have been studied in adults and, to a growing extent, adolescents, there remains a major gap in evidence regarding their implications for preconception health, pregnancy outcomes, neonatal adaptation, and pediatric development. These conditions are characterized by profound fatigue, post-exertional malaise (PEM), autonomic and metabolic dysfunction, and cognitive impairment, which may interact with the physiological demands of pregnancy and early life in complex and poorly understood ways. Emerging data on pediatric Long COVID and post-viral or dysautonomic syndromes further highlight the relevance of this clinical spectrum across maternal–child health.Current evidence remains fragmented and largely retrospective, with inconsistent findings regarding pregnancy outcomes, obstetric risks, and postpartum symptom trajectories, as well as heterogeneous clinical courses in affected children. Key uncertainties remain regarding optimal management during pregnancy and postpartum, medication safety, and short- and long-term outcomes for offspring.This Research Topic aims to define the epidemiological, clinical, and mechanistic landscape of ME/CFS and related post-infectious and dysautonomia-associated conditions in the context of maternal, neonatal, and pediatric health. It seeks to clarify bidirectional relationships with pregnancy and early development, and to identify strategies that improve outcomes across the maternal–child continuum.We welcome original research, reviews, and clinical perspectives addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:- Pathophysiological mechanisms of ME/CFS and related post-infectious/dysautonomia-associated conditions during pregnancy- Long COVID, post-viral fatigue syndromes, and POTS in maternal and pediatric populations- Impact on fertility, pregnancy course, obstetric outcomes, and postpartum recovery- Neonatal outcomes and early-life adaptation in the context of maternal illness and treatment exposure- Pediatric Long COVID and post-viral fatigue syndromes, including developmental and long-term outcomes- Clinical management strategies, including risk stratification, medication safety, and multidisciplinary care models- Maternal mental health and family impact in the perinatal period- Innovations in prenatal, perinatal, postpartum, and pediatric supportive care interventions Topic editors: Balaji Govindaswami, Laishuan Wang, Cheryl K Walker, Matthew Nudelman Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/75217/myalgic-encephalomyelitischronic-fatigue-syndrome-and-related-post-infectious-and-dysautonomia-associated-conditions-insights-pertinent-to-maternal-child-health