Growing pains in children

Abstract

common presenting complaint of children visiting pediatricians in out-patient department is pain in the lower extremities. The common cause of childhood musculoskeletal pain is termed "growing pains" (GP). The pain usually appears late in the day or is nocturnal, often awakening the child. The duration ranges from minutes to hours. GP is not associated with serious organic disease and usually resolves by late childhood. The diagnosis is always by clinical examination and no laboratory investigation or imaging is required. Conservative management should be employed to ease the child's discomfort along with other supportive measures.