Patient's question:
My daughter is nine years old this year. A few days ago, she suddenly said her thigh hurt and was walking with a limp. However, those days were close to an exam, so we didn't take her to the hospital. But later, she said it didn't hurt anymore, and now these past couple of days, she's saying it hurts again. I don't know what's going on, and I don't know which department to take her to the hospital for.Doctor's answer:
Hello, is your daughter experiencing growing pains? This refers to pain in the front of the thighs, calves, and groin area. Some children wake up from sleep due to the pain, while others may even have difficulty falling asleep. The cause may be related to excessive activity or fatigue. Growing pains are a physiological phenomenon that occurs during childhood development and are not a disease of the body's organs. Their occurrence rate is parallel to the level of growth and development. Girls typically experience peak growing pains at age 11, while boys experience them between ages 12 and 13. This pain may be related to the stretching caused by the coordination between bone growth and the development of muscles, tendons, and nerves.If the pain is severe, in addition to seeking medical help, parents should provide emotional support to reassure their children that "pain is not something to fear." When the pain is pronounced, it is advisable to reduce or avoid excessive strenuous activity. As the growth and development peak subsides, growing pains will naturally resolve on their own. Parents can appropriately supplement their children's nutrition to alleviate their fear and create a healthy growth environment.