Nonspecific somatic symptoms in early adolescent girls.

Nonspecific somatic symptoms such as headaches, stomachache, and tiredness are common among adolescent females. The epidemiology of such symptoms is poorly defined. As part of a study on the age of onset of puberty, 239 Jewish schoolgirls living in Jerusalem, Israel, grades 4-8, were asked to rate their usual state of health. Thirteen girls (5.5%) reported poor health and cited nonspecific somatic symptoms as the reason. Nonspecific somatic symptoms were most prevalent (13.8%) among girls in early puberty (Tanner stage B2). Low maternal educational level and large family size were significantly associated with such symptoms. In a comparison with a matched control group, the girls with nonspecific somatic symptoms were significantly more likely to have mothers with a chronic illness. The potential implications of our findings are discussed.