Growing pains
Encyclopedia
Growing pains are pain
symptoms relatively common in children. Typically, they are located in the muscles, rather than the joints, of the leg and less commonly the arm. They are usually felt on both sides, and appear late in the day or at night, waking the child, with pain varying from mild to very severe. Pain is absent by the morning, and there are no objective clinical signs of inflammation. Pain can recur nightly or be absent for days to months. Growing pain is not associated with other serious disease and usually resolves by late childhood, but frequent episodes are capable of having a substantial effect on the life of the child.
Restless leg syndrome is sometimes misdiagnosed as growing pains.
Growing pains are said to typically occur in two periods during a child's life, firstly, between about 3 and 5 years old, then later in 8 to 12 year olds. There are however no published epidemiological studies to support this observation. Individuals can vary markedly in when they experience growing pains.
(acetaminophen) are often used. Most times in the morning the pain is gone leaving no signs of rash or other noticeable side effects.
Pain
Pain is an unpleasant sensation often caused by intense or damaging stimuli such as stubbing a toe, burning a finger, putting iodine on a cut, and bumping the "funny bone."...
symptoms relatively common in children. Typically, they are located in the muscles, rather than the joints, of the leg and less commonly the arm. They are usually felt on both sides, and appear late in the day or at night, waking the child, with pain varying from mild to very severe. Pain is absent by the morning, and there are no objective clinical signs of inflammation. Pain can recur nightly or be absent for days to months. Growing pain is not associated with other serious disease and usually resolves by late childhood, but frequent episodes are capable of having a substantial effect on the life of the child.
Diagnosis
In the absence of limping, loss of mobility, or physical signs, laboratory investigation to exclude other diagnoses is not warranted.Restless leg syndrome is sometimes misdiagnosed as growing pains.
Epidemiology
Reported prevalences of growing pains have been between 2% and 46% of children.Growing pains are said to typically occur in two periods during a child's life, firstly, between about 3 and 5 years old, then later in 8 to 12 year olds. There are however no published epidemiological studies to support this observation. Individuals can vary markedly in when they experience growing pains.
Cause
The causes of growing pains are unknown. They are not associated with growth spurts and some authors suggest that the term 'recurrent limb pain in childhood' be used instead. Theories of causation include faulty posture, vascular perfusion disorder, tiredness, or psychological causes. Some studies say that growing pains are a result of "emotional disturbances" and others suggest that parents who suffered some sort of painful experiences in their childhood lead to their children's pains.{Proc Royal Soc Med 1970, 63:479-484. Oster J: Recurrent abdominal pain, headache and limb pain in children and adolescents. Pediatrics 1972, 50:429-436. PubMed Abstract} Some parents are able to associate episodes of pain with physical exercise or mood changes in the child.Treatment
Parents and children can be substantially reassured by explaining the benign and self limiting nature of the pains. There are no substantial studies of the effectiveness of any intervention; however local massage, hot baths and analgesic drugs such as paracetamolParacetamol
Paracetamol INN , or acetaminophen USAN , is a widely used over-the-counter analgesic and antipyretic . It is commonly used for the relief of headaches and other minor aches and pains and is a major ingredient in numerous cold and flu remedies...
(acetaminophen) are often used. Most times in the morning the pain is gone leaving no signs of rash or other noticeable side effects.