Children and back pain

Problems that affect a child's back are most often due to injuries resulting from sports or games, falls or unusual stresses, such as those caused by wearing a heavy backpack. Back pain and stiffness are most often caused by contracted muscle, tense ligament or bruising. Symptoms of back pain usually go away in a week without special treatment.

Possible causes:

Back pain is quite common in healthy children and adolescents. When children or adolescents consult a doctor for back pain, it is very likely that the underlying pathology is identified.

Common causes of back pain include nonspecific pain or muscle tension, herniated disc, spondylolysis, scoliosis and Scheuermann's disease.

Less common causes include tumors, infections and sickle cell crisis. In case of suspicion of nonspecific back pain, treatment may include home exercise, physical therapy or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. If history and physical examination suggest underlying pathology, X-ray, complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C-reactive protein measurement should be performed. Follow-up magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography or bone scans may be required depending on the suspected cause. It is generally accepted that the following factors warrant immediate assessment: age of the patient under four, persistent symptoms, self-imposed activity limitations, systemic symptoms, increasing discomfort, persistent night pain, and neurological symptoms.

When to call the pediatrician:

Consult your pediatrician if your child with back pain is less than 10 years old or has a:
Pain that does not go away or gets worse
Fever or weight loss
Difficulty moving a limb
Numbness or tingling in a limb
Loss of control of the bladder or intestines
A change of gait or posture

Back pain in a young child who has not been injured is a concern and should be evaluated by your pediatrician.

Preventive actions

Relieve the backpack
Prevent injuries from sports abuse or spinal trauma
Prevent urinary tract infections in children

                                                                                       Back pain in children

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