TOPICS AND POSTINGS

August 7, 2008
Growing Pains

Growing pains are described as "recurrent, extremity pains for which the parents, child, and health care provider have no explanation". Noted in medical literature in 1823, there is still no consensus about the definition of "growing pains".

Although they occur in growing children, they are not actually caused by growth. Growing pains do not coincide with periods of rapid growth, do not occur at the sites of growth, and do not affect the growth of children who have them. Emotional disturbance and psychogenic illness often are mentioned as possible causes but have not been studied systematically.

Growing pains are benign, self-limiting and usually resolve within a year or two of onset. The key consideration is that parents and clinicians not dismiss as "growing pains" a significant problem for which intervention may be appropriate.

Growing pains usually begin between 2 and 12 years. They are present in a range of 4 to 37 percent of the population studied, depending on the age of the children and the clinical definition used. However, some surveys of schoolchildren indicate that as many as 10 to 20 percent have had growing pains.

Growing pains are slightly more common among girls than boys.
Other causes may be fatigue, mild orthopedic and postural abnormalities, restless leg syndrome, and local overuse. Parents of children with growing pains often reveal a pattern of increased complaints following an increased level of physical activity.

Symptoms:

• Pain typically occurs late in the day or awakens the child.
• Pain must be severe enough to interrupt normal activity, including sleep.
• Pain is not specifically related to the joints.
• Pain occurs at least monthly for at least three months.
• Pain is intermittent, with symptom-free periods of at least days.
• Pain is accentuated by increased activity during the day [16] .
• The physical examination is normal.
• Other studies, if performed, are normal.

Doctors and other clinicians at Family Medical Center are trained to ask specific questions to help distinguish growing pains from serious conditions that may require treatment.

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