What causes ankle pain in children?

It is actually very common for children to experience ankle pain. Children are more active and like to run around, so it is common for them to sprain their ankle occasionally. Children's ankle pain is mostly caused by sprains, so parents can use appropriate medications on the ankle in time to relieve pain.

1. What to do if your child has ankle pain or ankle pain

1. Foot and ankle pain is very common in children. Joint diseases like arthritis are caused due to ankle pain and ankle inflammation. If your child's ankle pain or swelling gets worse or persists, you should contact your pediatrician.

2. When a child has pain in his ankle, he may walk with a limp or his feet may have difficulty bearing the weight of his body. When swelling, bruising, and bone tenderness occur along with other symptoms of an injury, you may not know what is causing the pain. Many times, pain is related to birth defects, bone age, or growth problems.

3. When the diagnosis of ankle pain is made, the pediatrician will conduct a complete clinical observation of the child's body. If the nature of the pain changes with activity or rest, your doctor may want to consider checking the specific location of the pain when it first occurred. The doctor will also ask the parents whether there is a family history of this disease, which can also affect bone disease. It is also necessary to rule out other disorders affecting the muscles including the nervous system.

4. When trying to diagnose the cause of your child's ankle pain, your child's body plays an important role in the physical examination. Your child may also need to have the pain retested to test the strength of the ankle joint. Depending on your child's symptoms, your doctor may order X-rays, CT scans, bone scans, or MRIs to take a closer look at the bones and muscles.

2. What are the causes of ankle pain in children?

1. Fractures. For active young children, foot and ankle pain is often caused by minor trauma or repetitive stress. Children's ligaments are harder than bones or cartilage. Therefore, fractures are a more common site of injury than sprains. Young children often suffer sprains and strains, even though these are uncommon.

2. Sprain: A sprain occurs when the muscles or tendons connecting bones are stretched too much. This problem also tends to occur suddenly. It is usually not recommended for young children to participate in various sports to prevent strains, but children may sprain their ankles if they accidentally fall to the ground.

3. Arthritis. Autoimmune diseases such as arthritis may cause ankle pain in your baby. Arthritis that occurs in childhood, also known as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, is one of the most common chronic diseases. Young children may experience morning stiffness and limp. How long JRA will last is unpredictable, but in most cases the disease eventually goes into spontaneous remission. The focus of treatment is also on controlling pain, preventing joint damage and preserving joint function.

4. The bone growth of 10-year-old children is obvious, and any deviation from the surrounding muscles may cause pain in the growing joints (knees, ankles, wrists, elbows, shoulders, etc.). Ankle sprains and other injuries can cause pain. It is recommended to first determine whether the pain is unilateral or bilateral, whether there is a history of trauma, supplement with adequate calcium and vitamin D, and engage in appropriate outdoor activities. If it is unilateral and there is trauma, an X-ray examination is required in a regular hospital.