Medical Insider – Dr. Ria P. Maslog

MEDICAL INSIDER-
DR. RIA MASLOG
For OCT 8, 2023

Joint Pains in Children

This symptom is a common reason for clinic visit among
the pediatric age group.
There are many reasons for joint pains in children and the
most common benign cause is growing pains.
In this group, children will usually complain of pain in the
afternoon or early evening and there is no associated
limping or change in gait. The pain is usually resolved
after rest including a soft massage.
Other causes of joint pains in children include:

1. Pains of Bone tumors – the pain here is steady, boring
   ache, worse at night and with overlying soft tissue
   tenderness
2. Malignancy associated arthropathy – the joint pains
   here are disproportionate to the objective findings; there is
   nocturnal pain with limping in the morning; and the pain is
   migratory in nature
3. Arthropathy of Rheumatic Fever – this is the most
   common yet less specific; the pain is also migratory and is
   affecting large joints; there is dramatic response upon
   treatment with Aspirin; arthritis duration is less than 2
   weeks
4. Septic Arthritis – this is most common in younger
   children; the knee is most commonly affected followed by
   the hip; with the joint pains, there is also fever, tenderness
   and pseudoparalysis
5. Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis – here, there is arthritis of
   more than 1 joint persisting for 6 weeks with an onset
   before the age of 16 years.
6. Henoch Schonlein Purpura – there are joint pains here
   plus palpable rashes, periarticular swelling and abdominal
   pain.
7. Juvenile Dermatomyositis – in this condition, the joint
   pains are associated with rashes, proximal and
   symmetrical muscle weakness, difficulty in swallowing and
   changes in voice
8. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus – this is
   characterized by joint pains, malar rash, ulcers, fever,
   fatigue and weight loss
9. Psoriatic Arthritis – the joint pains here are
   accompanied with a rash, and nail changes.
10. Systemic Sclerosis – in this condition, one will
    manifest a joint pain with skin tightness, sclerodactyly,
    shortness of breath and Raynaud’s changes