Question
Today, what could be the cause of a 10-year-old’s foot pain?
Answer
Condition Analysis: Growth pain occurs in children during periods of rapid growth when the rate of muscle growth does not match that of the bones, resulting in limb pain known as growth pain. Not every child experiences growth pain during these periods, but approximately one in six children do. The main areas affected by growth pain are the upper and lower limbs, rather than joint areas, with lower limb pain being more pronounced. This is also what distinguishes growth pain from arthritis. Generally, growth pain is only felt as a slight ache in the limbs and does not last very long. Since children’s attention during the day is occupied by learning and surrounding activities, they do not usually feel discomfort unless they engage in more vigorous activities. However, at night when the environment becomes quiet and children are preparing to sleep, they may start to feel limb pain. Severe pain can even affect their sleep. Guidance: For children with growth pain, parents can usually do the following: Carefully inquire about the time when the pain began and its location. Press on the child’s joints and limb muscles. Only after ruling out arthritis by ensuring there are no redness, swelling, or tenderness in the joint areas can growth pain be treated accordingly. Provide emotional comfort to the child and explain that this is a temporary phenomenon during the growth process and there is no need to be anxious. Allow the child to take a warm bath or use a hot water bottle to apply heat to the painful area. Gently massage the affected area for the child, which will help them feel more comfortable. If the child’s painful area is in a joint region and accompanied by fever symptoms, or if the pain persists for a long time without relief, parents should take their child to the hospital as soon as possible for medical treatment.