Chest pain in children and adolescents

Chest pain in children often worries families. In this article, I decided to explain practical tips that can reduce parents' worries.

What factors cause chest pain in children and teenagers? Chest pain in children has several causes. Each of these different factors can make a child or teenager feel chest pain. In most cases, chest pain in children and adolescents is not caused by a heart problem. Learn about the symptoms of heart disease in children ### Chest wall problem The most common cause of chest pain in children and teenagers is chest wall pain. The "chest wall" is a term for the structures that surround and protect the lungs, including the ribs and sternum that form the circumference of the chest. In most cases, we do not know what factors cause pain in the chest wall, but it is usually associated with short-term severe pain that increases with breathing. Injury to the ribs, sternum, or other bones in the chest and back can also cause chest wall pain. There are also various muscles and joints in the chest area that may be injured, inflamed or stretched. Their causes can include infection or injury during exercise or falling. Common chest wall pain is not treated with heart medications, although damage and inflammation of the chest wall can respond to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen. Otherwise, the treatment of chest pain depends on the underlying cause of the pain. Related article What are the types of heart disease in children? ### Causes of cardiac origin Heart conditions that can cause chest pain in a child are very rare. They include pericarditis (inflammation of the sac that surrounds the heart), myocarditis (a viral infection of the heart), arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm), or, rarely, blockages or other problems with the coronary arteries. Coronary arteries are small vessels that carry oxygenated blood to the tissues of the heart itself. Another cardiac cause of chest pain can be due to a ruptured aorta. The aorta is the main artery that carries blood from the heart to the body. ### Other causes of chest pain Sometimes, a cold (upper respiratory tract infection) or persistent cough can cause chest pain. Some children describe acid reflux (heartburn) as chest pain. Stress or anxiety may also cause chest pain. What should I do if my child has chest pain? Chest pain can be understood in children from four to five years old. When the child complains of chest pain. Parents worry that there is something wrong with their child's heart. Chest pain in children is unlikely to be caused by a heart problem. However, do not ignore chest pain in a child. Discuss this with the pediatric cardiologist and explain what your child is experiencing. The doctor will decide on the need for further tests. Cases requiring immediate medical attention Chest pain in children is sometimes considered a pediatric medical emergency. Although these cases are rare, they are very important and sometimes very dangerous, and the delay in diagnosis and treatment sometimes costs the child's life. If your child complains of chest pain associated with these cases, see a doctor immediately. Chest pain with fever, sweating, or difficulty breathing, or very fast heart rate with pallor, or severe pain that feels like the chest wall is tearing, don't wait - get help right away. Also, if there is a family history of "aortic dissection" or aortic rupture or Marfan syndrome. Immediate emergency evaluation is required. What should I expect if my child sees a pediatric cardiologist for chest pain? Chest pain in children has various causes, and the doctor must identify and treat these causes with a complete evaluation. The pediatric cardiologist listens to your child's heartbeat. Asks about conditions that lead to chest pain. It asks questions about your child's medical history and your family's medical history. The doctor examines and interprets an electrocardiogram or electrocardiogram (ECG) that characterizes the electrical activity of your child's heart. He also performs echocardiography to check the condition of the heart structure and how your child's heart functions. With these measures, he can determine whether the cause of your child's symptoms is a heart problem. The doctor may do other tests, such as an exercise stress test, an EKG or chest X-ray, or he may send your child home with a Holterrhythm heart monitor to continuously record your child's heart rhythm during normal activities. However, the vast majority of children will not need further testing and likely have a normal heart.