Children’s Leg Pain: Simple or Serious??

What causes "growing pains?"

It’s not unusual for school-aged children to complain of leg pain at night. This leg pain in children, sometimes referred to as “growing pains,” is not a specific illness. Growth shouldn’t cause pain, and most experts believe that growing pains at night are a muscle response to muscle overuse during the day. Growing pains often manifest as upper leg pain on the fronts of the thighs, or in the calves or behind the knees.

The pain known as growing pains often resolves on its own, but parents should pay attention to their child’s symptoms. Consult a clinician to rule out or manage a more serious illness if the following characteristics are part of leg pain in children:

• Pain in the joints
• Pain that persists during the day and interferes with a child’s normal activities
• Pain accompanied by other symptoms including swelling, redness, fever, limping, or weakness
• Pain associated with an injury