Leg Pain In Children

Determining the cause of leg pain in children is tricky, but it is possible to watch for signs and symptoms that can signal some of the most common causes. Even though the child may not have the ability to accurately describe the pain's intensity or area of origin - knee pain can sometimes start in the hip, for example - it is important to try to get a good description of the kind of pain the child is experiencing.

Growing pains

One of the most common causes of leg pain in children is attributable to growing pains. This type of leg pain often occurs late in the day or in the middle of the night. Gently massaging the muscle often helps to alleviate the typical discomfort of growing pains. In the absence of a fever or other symptoms, massage is also one way to rule out other causes. If the pain is due to injury or another medical condition, touching the area often makes the pain worse.

Other common causes

Among the other most common causes of childhood leg pain, injury tops the list. Some kinds of bone fractures, sometimes called "toddler's fractures," are potentially the result of a simple fall and are difficult to see on an x-ray. Muscle pain is also a common symptom of a virus such as the flu, but this type of pain is limited to muscle tissue. Pain in the joints could indicate an infection like septic arthritis; in this case, the joint is typically warm and swollen, and the child may refuse to move or place any weight on the affected leg.

If any symptoms other than leg pain are present, the safest choice is to have the child evaluated by a doctor. Most conditions require diagnosis and treatment by a qualified medical professional.

Gently massaging the muscle often helps to alleviate the discomfort of growing pains