Hip Pain in Children

Though children who suffer from a hip injury are most likely to experience hip pain, serious medical conditions could also be responsible for causing inflammation and pain in the hip joint. Whatever the cause may be, hip pain needs to be taken seriously. If your child has been complaining of hip pain, and you also noticed changes in your child's gait, consult a doctor soon. Here's some information on the causes, symptoms and treatment of hip pain in children.

Symptoms of Hip Pain

• Pain in hips, thighs or groin
• Fever
• Inflammation
• Swelling
• Tenderness of the hip joint
• Limping

Causes of Hip Pain

Transient Synovitis: Children in the age group of 3-10 years are susceptible to a medical condition called transient synovitis. This condition is characterized by transient inflammation of the hip joint. Boys are more likely to get affected by this condition. Inflammation of the tissues around the hip causes sharp hip pain, swelling or a low-grade fever. The children affected by this condition might limp. They may sometimes, refuse to walk. The pain could also be experienced in the inner knee, inner thigh or groin. It often follows a viral illness.

Septic Arthritis: This condition may affect children below the age of 4 years. Septic arthritis is caused due to a bacterial infection. An injury to the joint can cause an infection in the joint. If left untreated, it can cause serious damage to the hip joint. In severe cases, surgery might be required for curing this infection. Hip pain and fever are common symptoms of septic arthritis. Children affected by this condition might refuse to walk and might limp while walking.

Perthes' Disease: This disease affects the children in the age group of 5-10 years. It is a type of avascular necrosis of the femoral head. This condition is caused due to occlusion of blood flow to the femoral head. Those suffering from Perthes' disease generally experience knee pain and hip pain, and might also limp. The hip movements are also restricted by this condition. In severe cases, it might also lead to leg shortening or proximal muscle wasting.

Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis: This condition is caused when the femoral head slips off the neck of the thigh bone. It generally affects boys in the age group of 10-16 years. Those who are obese are more likely to suffer from this medical condition. The symptoms of slipped capital femoral epiphysis include pain and stiffness in the hip joint, knee pain, pain in the thigh or groin region and limping.

Treatment of Hip Pain

Besides the aforementioned conditions, hip pain could also be caused due to injuries and hip bone fractures, developmental dysplasia of the hip, osteomyelitis, bone malignanacy, tumors and rheumatological disorders. The treatment will vary depending on the medical condition. If your child is suffering from transient synovitis, anti-inflammatory drugs might be prescribed by the doctors. It is very important that the child gets ample rest. Since septic arthritis can cause permanent damage to the hip joint, an early diagnosis is very essential. So, if your child has been complaining of hip pain, don't ignore it. This condition can be diagnosed with the help of X-rays, MRI, bone scan, ultrasound and blood tests. In the early stages, it can be treated with the help of antibiotics, but if the condition worsens, surgery might be required. Perthes' disease and Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis can also be treated by surgical procedures.

This was some information on hip pain in children. Since hip pain can be attributed to serious medical conditions, seek medical help if your child complains of pain in and around the hip.