Question
I often feel pain in my lower legs during the night or naps. Recently, I had knee joint pain in the middle of the night. What are growth pains in a 13-year-old child?
Answer
At 13, boys enter puberty and grow faster, which might cause knee bone pain due to growth pains. It’s advisable to have a trace element test at the hospital to check for calcium deficiency. If there is a deficiency, appropriate supplementation is recommended. Taking calcium carbonate or {drug - Caltrate} is a good choice; it’s affordable and effective. A balanced diet is very important; consuming more animal organs like pork bone soup, eggs, and chicken soup may help. Additionally, children should also increase their intake of other nutrients, as adolescence is crucial for growth and development. Growth pains can be harmful to children, so parents should take their child to a regular hospital for a check-up immediately upon noticing symptoms and pay more attention to their child’s dietary issues. It’s suggested to have a reasonable diet.