Children, whether toddlers or older, are like buds blossoming into flowers and need to be nourished with great care. Parents face many concerns during these tender years of their child. One very important issue is Growing Pains.
As a parent or guardian, it is important to know about this condition to avoid undue anxiety. Equally, this knowledge can also help spot unusual symptoms which may require a specialist opinion.
1) What is growing pain?
Growing pain refers to non-specific pain in the lower extremity of a child which commonly occurs in the evening or at night. It usually occurs 1-2 times a week and can last for more than 3 months. Each episode of pain lasts from 30 minutes to 2 hours.
It affects both the limbs and involves muscles of the calf, thigh and shin. Nearly 20% of all children are affected by growing pains, making it the most common cause of recurrent musculoskeletal pain in children.
2) What is the most common age group and gender?
Children of any age (4-14 years) can suffer growing pain, with the peak age being 4-8 years. Both girls and boys are affected with equal frequency.
3) Is it related to any deficiency in the body?
The specific cause for growing pain is not known. Many studies have been done to show a relationship with some minerals and Vitamin D deficiency, but there is no conclusive evidence for the same.
4) Will this have a long term effect on my child’s body?
No, growing pain has not been shown to have any long lasting effect on the child’s body.
5) What is the treatment for growing pains?
It is important for parents to understand the benign nature of growing pain. They do not require any treatment, but the following measures may be used to alleviate them:
6) When should I be careful and seek a specialist opinion?
There are a few red flag symptoms for which parents should look out, like:
If you think your child displays such symptoms atypical of growing pains, book a consultation with PREP Clinic.