What causes calf pain in children?

Children are in a period of growth and development. At this time, parents should supplement them with corresponding nutrients so that they can grow more healthily. If your child has calf pain, you should take them to the hospital for examination in time to avoid this situation that will affect the normal development of their legs. If ignored, it may cause your child to eventually suffer from the sequelae of joint deformation.

Based on symptoms, epidemiology and immunology analysis, it is believed that rheumatoid arthritis is closely related to human hemolytic streptococcal infection, and the route of infection is crucial. Pharyngeal streptococcal infection is a necessary condition for the onset of the disease. However, the pathogenesis of rheumatic fever caused by group A streptococci is not yet fully understood. It has also been noted that viral infection is also related to this disease.

The pathological changes in the active stage of rheumatoid arthritis include edema of the synovium and surrounding tissues, myxoid changes, fibrinoid changes and inflammatory cell infiltration in the subsynovial connective tissue, and sometimes atypical rheumatic bodies. After the activity period, the exudate in the joint can be absorbed and generally does not cause adhesion, so no sequelae such as joint deformity will occur.

1. Pain

Joint pain is the primary symptom of rheumatoid arthritis. Pain may occur in joints throughout the body, but it is more common to affect large joints, such as the knees, ankles, shoulders, wrists, etc. Typical symptoms include symmetrical, migratory pain, accompanied by inflammatory manifestations of redness, swelling, and heat. Usually, the symptoms of acute inflammation last for 2 to 4 weeks to subside. After the symptoms of one joint subside, symptoms of another joint may reappear. Sometimes several joints may be affected at the same time.

Joint symptoms are greatly affected by climate changes, and joint pain often occurs when the weather turns cold or before it rains. After the acute phase, no joint deformities remain, which is different from rheumatoid arthritis.

2. Muscle pain

At the onset of the disease, patients may experience symptoms such as muscle aches, general fatigue, lack of appetite, and irritability.

3. Irregular fever

Before rheumatism appears, there will be irregular fever, mostly mild to moderate fever, rapid pulse, and sweating, which is not proportional to body temperature.

4. Skin and mucous membrane symptoms

There are subcutaneous nodules, annular erythema, etc., which are more common in children and rare in adults.

5. Chorea

It is only seen in children, more commonly in girls. The children first have mental symptoms such as restlessness, irritability, and anger, followed by purposeless and rapid movements, frowning, pouting and other strange faces. The limbs may have unrhythmic alternating movements of extension and flexion, adduction and abduction, pronation and supination. It is more obvious when you are tired or excited, less severe when you rest or calm, and disappears during sleep.

6. Heart symptoms

Since rheumatic fever mainly affects the joints and heart during its active phase, patients with rheumatic arthritis often suffer from myocarditis, endocarditis, pericarditis, etc. There are symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath, and precordial pain.