THE NEURON

This is the last Sunday mirror of 2023. Wishing all readers a very happy New year. Hope the new year will make you extremely happy and successful.

Today’s topic is pain in children. Pain is so irritating. Might be any age, it is worrisome. Growing pains are cramping or aching pains in your child’s limbs primarily legs. They are the most common cause of pain in your child’s muscles. The pains generally affect both legs and happen at night. It usually occurs in kids ages 3 to 12. These pains occur equally in boys and girls. But when the child grows to adolescent the pain usually disappears.

The name growing pain is a misnomer. It doesn’t occur due to growth. Previously it was thought that these pains are due to disproportionate growth of bone and tendons. But recently no evidence suggests that it’s due to growth.

Symptoms of growing pain

Growing pain occurs mostly in child’s legs and affect both sides of their body. The pain appears late in the day or at night, often awakening your child. By morning child is well, with no pain or stiffness. Pain will often occur on days of increased physical activity. Pain occurs more in days of high humidity. Pain occurs in multiple sites of legs. Sometimes it might cause pain in the arm. But mostly in the calf. Sometimes it might come with a headache and pain abdomen. Sometimes the pain is very severe. Sometimes it goes for prolonged time.

Why does it occur?

There’s no known cause of growing pains. But there are various possible causes.

– Overuse of muscle : Increased physical activity can lead to overuse muscles causing pain.

– Joint hyperextensibility: Growing pains may occur due to joint hyperextensibility.

– Low pain threshold : Some studies show that children with growing pains have a lower pain threshold.

– Nutrition: Deficiency in vitamin D might be a cause.

When to visit the doctor

Mild growing pains are normal. You have to visit pediatricians / neurologist if

• Severe pain.
• High grade fever
• Swelling of muscle
• Limping.
• Redness.
• Red urine
• Difficulty in getting up
• Recurrent fall

How to get rid of pain?

You can’t prevent your child’s growing pains. But some home measures can decrease the problem.

• Regular breaks in sports and sufficient water
• Aerobic sports
• Warm compression to the limb
• Gentle message
• Streching of limbs
• Over the counter medicine like paracetamol
• High calcium diet.

Please read and share for wide awareness

Happy Sunday!!!