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Chest Pains are a common complaint in children.

In adults, heart disease is a common cause of chest pain. Fortunately, it is very rare for heart problems to be the cause of chest pain in children.

Chest Wall Pain: This is pain that comes from the muscle, bones and cartilage of the rib cage and sternum (breast bone). The pain is often reproducible when you press on the rib cage at the point at which the ribs meet with the sternum. This is frequently treated with ibuprofen, and usually improves nicely with time.

Asthma: Children with asthma frequently report chest pain related to the bronchospasm and wheezing that occurs. Some children experience exercise induced asthma, which can cause chest pain associated with wheezing during exertion or athletics.

After medical evaluation, your child may be prescribed a bronchodilator or other asthma medication which can prevent exercise induced asthma.

Gastroesophageal Reflux: This is a condition in which the contents of the stomach come back up the esophagus after eating or drinking, causing heartburn. The sensation can be reported as chest pain by children. This condition can be diagnosed and treated after your child is evaluated carefully.

Psychological Causes: Some children report chest pain which can be related to psychological stresses, such as illness of a family member, school stress, a change in the home situation, or changes in relationships with family or peers.

If your child is experiencing chest pain, it is best to have your child evaluated in order to differentiate what the cause is, and to be able to properly treat the child.

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