Causes of Joint Pain
While headache and abdominal pain are the first and second most common complaints of recurrent pain in children; Muscle and joint pains come in third place. When a child complains of joint or leg pain, it is a cause for concern for parents. Most of the time, even if the discomfort is due to a cause that will go away on its own, it is useful to be aware of the signs and symptoms that indicate a more serious disease.
Sudden and serious traumas are another common cause of joint pain in children. In athletic children, overuse injuries - a result of repeating the same movement over and over again - are increasing as youth sports become more common.
Growing pains are a common cause of leg pain in children. These pains are muscle pains that may occur in the thigh, behind the knee or calf area. Other possible causes of joint pain that may be more serious include Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA), Septic Arthritis (Inflammation in the joint space), Lupus, Lyme Disease and Leukemia (blood cancer). It is necessary to be more careful in differential diagnosis, especially when there is pain in a single joint.
Other Causes of Joint Pain in Children
Joint pain is a common condition in musculoskeletal system diseases. is a symptom. Joint pain in children can sometimes be a sign of a serious underlying disease. These are:
Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis)
If a child complains of joint pain for a long time, this may be Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). . Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis can cause pain and swelling in one or more joints. Unlike growing pains, it can also affect a child's movement or strength. In this disease, the pain is usually worse in the morning, accompanied by morning stiffness (limitation of movement), and there is often some relief in the afternoon, but the pain continues in the following days.
There are several different subtypes of JIA and they are divided into subtypes. Symptoms may vary depending on the condition. Therefore, it can be difficult for doctors to diagnose. However, early diagnosis and treatment is vital because JIA can affect bone growth and lead to permanent disability.
Pain and swelling develop in the joints due to inflammation caused by microorganisms in the bone in or near the joint. In cases of bone and joint infection, most of the time, a single joint is involved, and temperature increase, redness and serious pain in the joint are at the forefront. Additionally, these conditions are often accompanied by increased body temperature.
Lupus
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), or lupus, is an autoimmune disease that can affect almost every organ in the body. is a disorder. Lupus is very rare in young children, but is more common in teenagers, especially women. Lupus causes many different symptoms, including:
Fatigue that persists after rest
Pain, swelling, or stiffness in joints
Often on the nose or skin rashes around the area
Fever
Hair loss
Lupus is a long-term disease condition and symptoms may vary depending on the severity of the disease. However, early diagnosis and treatment can suppress disease activity and improve its course.
Leukemia
Leukemia is a blood cancer that begins in the bone marrow. It is the most common type of cancer in children. Leukemia can cause joint and bone pain, often along with other symptoms.
Symptoms and their severity vary depending on the type of leukemia and may include:
Anemia
Easily bleeding or bruising as a result of minor bumps
Infections and recurring or persistent fevers
Abdominal pain
Swollen lymph nodes
Difficulty breathing
Joint or bone pain
Lyme disease
Ticks can spread a bacterial infection known as Lyme disease. Ticks carry a bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi, which they pass to humans when they bite. These ticks live in grassy areas and wooded areas in certain areas.
Symptoms of Lyme disease include:
A circular rash around the tick bite, sometimes known as a bull's-eye rash
Fatigue
Fever or chills
Joint or muscle pain
Facial paralysis
Age in an area where Lyme disease occurs Anyone who walks around or spends time can become infected, but children who spend a lot of time playing outside are at greater risk.
To prevent Lyme disease, children should wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts. Parents or caregivers should also check the child's entire body for tick bites after playing outside.
After a tick bite, it may take up to 3 weeks for the rash to appear. Joint pain can sometimes be the first and only symptom in children.
Early diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease is important to prevent serious complications. Anyone who suspects an infected tick has bitten their child should see a doctor as soon as possible.
There is not much information about the frequency and status of Lyme disease in Turkey. However, it does not mean that the disease does not occur in Turkey.
When should the child be seen to a doctor?
If joint pain continues or worsens, you should go to the hospital to get medical help. .
Growing pains are a common cause of leg pain in children and usually disappear as the child grows. However, if the pain is persistent, severe, or unusual, the child should be seen by a doctor.
It is necessary to consult a doctor if joint pains occur along with any of the following symptoms:
Swollen, red, or tender joints
Recent injury
Limp or difficulty walking
Fever
Weight loss
Skin rash
Loss of appetite
Fatigue or weakness
The doctor will perform a comprehensive physical examination and, if necessary, use laboratory tests and imaging methods to find the underlying cause. Most often, the patient is referred to Pediatric Rheumatology. Once the diagnosis is made, treatment is started and the patient is monitored regularly with periodic checks.
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