Question
Recently, some parents have reported that their 5-year-old child frequently complains of leg pain and want to know if this is a case of growth pain and how it should be handled.
Answer
Growth pains typically occur during the rapid growth phase of children, especially around the pre-school age. This type of pain is mainly related to an increase in physical activity, the rapid growth of long bones, and the uneven development of regional muscles and tendons. Since growth pains are a physiological phenomenon in the process of children’s growth and development, some parents may mistakenly identify leg pain caused by other diseases as growth pains, thus delaying the treatment of these diseases. Pain caused by diseases usually worsens during activity and may even be restricted, while it differs when at rest. If parents cannot determine the cause of their child’s unknown pain, they should take their child to the hospital for diagnosis as soon as possible.