What Causes Joint Pain?

DiscussionMusculoskeletal problems are common problems in pediatric practice with up to 15% of acute care visits being for this problem.
Joint pain is a common concern for families but the differential diagnosis is extensive and needs thoughtful consideration. History is a key to discerning the potential diagnosis but also in guiding the physical examination and laboratory examination. Family history especially for systemic diseases should be considered. On physical examination all joints should be examined include sacroiliac and temporomandibular joints.

Is this arthritis or arthralgia? Distinction between inflammatory and non-inflammatory joints is important. Joints with inflammation are painful or stiff after rest and improve with activity. Joints without inflammation are better after rest and get worse with more activity.
What is the age of patient? The differential diagnosis will change with age. For example back pain is more likely to be due to overexertion or trauma in an adolescent. But true back pain in a child under age 6 may be due to malignancy or more serious problem.
How long has the pain been occurring? Acute is generally < 6 weeks, and chronic is more.
Single or multiple locations and are the locations consistent or migratory? This helps with classifying juvenile idiopathic arthritis, but also helps with other diagnoses as foreign body, trauma and septic joints are usually single joints. See the differential diagnosis below for additional information abo...

Source: PediatricEducation.org - October 26, 2020 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Pediatric Education Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news