What are the likely causes of chest pain in a pediatric patient?
The etiology of chest pain is most often unknown. Data show that typically, musculoskeletal chest pain is described as originating in the area between the lungs, is sharp, brief in duration and increases with respirations. This type of chest pain is not generally associated with physical activity, and the pain may be reproduced with palpation of the chest wall, indicating muscle strain or costochondritis (inflammation of the cartilage between the ribs). What are other possible diagnoses? Other common sources of chest pain in children include problems in the musculoskeletal and respiratory systems. Psychogenic, gastrointestinal and other causes of chest pain are less frequently identified. Studies have shown that organic causes are usually related to pain that wakes a child from sleep, has an acute onset, corresponds to abnormal physical findings or occurs when fever is present. Non-organic causes were related to chronic chest pain (lasting longer than six months) or to a family history
