Question
My four-year-old daughter has been suffering from severe pain in her right knee joint for the past two days. She is too afraid to move and cannot bend her knee without crying. After a check-up at the hospital and an ultrasound of the bones, everything seems fine. What should I do, experts?
Answer
Children often complain of leg pain, which could be due to a calcium deficiency, or what is known as growth pain, a physiological phenomenon during a child’s growth and development. It commonly occurs in children aged 3 to 12. The pain usually affects the limbs and can be accompanied by joint pain in other areas, even abdominal pain, but pain in the lower limbs and thighs is most common. Pain is the most common symptom. Most children report knee joint pain, which is usually mild or moderate. Some children may experience severe pain, forcing them to stop their activities or cry. If it occurs during sleep at night, they may even wake up in pain. The pain usually occurs on the front or back of the thigh. Symptoms can worsen before dusk due to excessive exercise and fatigue, but they often resolve on their own after rest.