Question
A child began to complain about leg pain in 2014, with persistent pain that was not taken seriously, as it was believed to be just a pain during the growth process. In 2016, the child went to an orthopedic department for a check-up and was found to have fluid in the right hip bone. The orthopedic doctor suggested observing and waiting for spontaneous healing. In 2017, the child underwent another physical examination, and the results showed that the fluid had healed. However, the pain appeared again soon afterward. Subsequently, the child sought treatment from a traditional Chinese medicine department and took bone peptide capsules for a year. The pain recurred after discontinuing the medication. On October 22, 2023, the child was treated in Guangzhou and an X-ray was taken, with the doctor suspecting it might be rheumatoid arthritis. However, the rheumatism immune test results were normal in 2016. Currently, it is unclear which department to consult and what kind of help to seek.
Answer
Hello, children’s leg pain may be related to physiological pain or rheumatic diseases. Urine acid and rheumatism four-item tests are required for diagnosis. X-rays cannot make a definitive diagnosis, and treatment should be targeted based on the test results. If the test results are normal, you can return to the traditional Chinese medicine department for a follow-up consultation and take traditional Chinese medicine for treatment, as traditional Chinese medicine has unique efficacy for such diseases.