The symptoms that can occur in children and adolescents are basically the same as in adults. However, it is not easy to recognize them, since children are not yet able to communicate or they describe the symptoms differently. So you have to watch their behavior. By age 3-4, children are better able to explain their pain, even when it is expressed in unconventional words and phrases such as “sharp sand in my shoes” or “ants are biting me.”

The neurological symptoms in children are predominantly related to small fiber neuropathy and lead to dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system leading to exercise intolerance, pain in hands and feet, hypohidrosis and periodic acute pain crises, and causing gastrointestinal problems.

Gastrointestinal complaints are shown by supposedly bad eaters, for example children express that they are full, not hungry or have stomach pains, especially after eating. Gastrointestinal symptoms in children and adolescents with Fabry disease are commonly described as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, bloating, and alternating episodes of diarrhea and constipation. These symptoms are related to a movement disorder of the gastrointestinal tract caused by damage to the autonomic nerves.

The stress intolerance becomes clear in comparison with other children. They appear unsportsmanlike, don’t feel like moving, complain about pain in their feet or legs and tire easily.

Pain occurs primarily in the hands and feet, but it can also occur anywhere in the body and not always in the same place. Headaches are also frequently reported. The pain is often triggered by temperature fluctuations, fever, fatigue, stress, overheating or physical activity.

Heat/cold intolerance leading to symptoms such as hypohidrosis (decreased ability to sweat), exercise intolerance and pain.

In the heat, children develop skin reddening, neuropathic pain, headaches, fatigue or heat stroke.

When it is cold, they may complain of increased pain or numbness in the extremities.

Frequent infections with high fever are also noticeable.

Growth abnormalities can also occur in older children and adolescents.

Protein can also be found in the urine of children.

Corneal clouding and clouding of the lens in the eye are also possible. (usually without impairment of vision)