1. Various Causes of Pediatric Joint Pain
Pediatric joint pain can be symptomatic of many conditions including inflammatory disease of the muscles and joints, malignancies, normal development, activity-related pain syndromes, pain conditions or endocrine abnormalities. Many perfectly healthy children do experience joint pain; therefore, it is very important to pay close attention to children's symptoms to determine if the pain does warrant evaluation by a physician.
2. Is This Joint Pain Just a Growing Pain?
Joint pain in children is often not due to a serious condition, yet it is important that a pediatrician assesses any unusual or persistent joint pain. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, growing pains typically occur between ages three and seven. The pain occurs as bone grows because the bone's thick covering must stretch and lengthen. Many experts also believe that some children have more pain than others and suggest that there may be a hereditary relationship to growing pains.
3. Symptoms That Suggest Something More Serious
Certain symptoms may warrant a visit with the pediatrician to rule out serious conditions. These red flag symptoms include chronic or persistent pain, joint pain associated with an injury, pain in the morning, tenderness or swelling around a joint, or unusual fatigue or weakness. These symptoms may not be anything serious, but they do warrant a physician's evaluation.
4. What Are the Warning Signs of Juvenile Arthritis?
A common complaint of those who suffer from juvenile arthritis is morning stiffness and/or walking with a limp. Joint inflammation and pain will likely occur, but inflammation of juvenile arthritis has flares and remissions. During flare periods the symptoms are at their worst, while symptoms are not present or minimal during periods of remission. Juvenile arthritis occurs in children under 16 years of age and is one of the more common chronic illnesses affecting the pediatric population. Despite its common incidence, juvenile arthritis is often not diagnosed quickly.
5. Thorough Preparation for Physician Follow-Up
If a physician's visit is warranted to further evaluate a child's joint pain, it will be helpful to take a moment to review the symptom details. The location of the pain will help the physician determine the potential origin of the pain. The pattern of pain also provides clinicians will a great deal of information. The pattern of pain includes the time of day pain typically occurs, what provokes the pain, joint pain duration and frequency of painful periods. If a trauma occurred, try to recall the mechanism of injury, for example, twisting or locking out of a joint. Additionally, take note of swelling, skin rashes, fevers, changes in activity mode or duration, and recent vaccinations.
