KNEE PAINS IN CHILDREN: SYMPTOMS, HOME CARE AND TREATMENT
Signs and symptoms
Tenderness without swelling at the edges of the kneecap usually indicates that the cartilage on the underside of the kneecap has been bruised and softened (chondromalacia). Swelling of the knee joint-fullness on both sides of the kneecap- indicates inflammation in the joint or an internal injury. Diagnosing the cause of knee pain depends upon the patient’s history, the presence or absence of symptoms, and upon the location of pain.
Home care
Treatment depends upon the problem, but usually – as in Osgood-Schlatter’s disease – it involves limiting your child’s activities. For two to four weeks, or until the swelling and tenderness are gone, the knee must not be bent; if the knee is not bent, it follows that it cannot be forcefully extended. From the child’s point of view, this rules out two-legged stair climbing, bicycling, running, and jumping. An elastic knee support can be a helpful reminder that the knee needs rest during this period of healing. Treatment of chondromalacia involves the temporary limitation of strenuous activities like track, trampoline, football, and soccer.
Precautions
• Swelling of the knee joint may be serious; it requires a doctor’s attention.
• If one knee cannot be straightened to match the opposite knee, fluid (blood or the serum that remains after blood has formed a clot), or pus has probably accumulated at the joint; the knee should be seen by a doctor.
• The child should not put weight on a swollen knee until it has been seen by a doctor.
• Remember that knee pain may be a sign of a hip problem.
Medical treatment
The doctor will make a thorough, detailed examination of each part of the knee and leg and check the range of normal and abnormal movement. The doctor may order X rays of knees and hips. Sometimes, an arthrogram, which is an X ray taken after a special opaque fluid has been injected into the area, will be necessary. The opaque fluid, which can be seen on the X ray, outlines the interior of the joint. Swelling, accumulation of fluid, and distortion or injury of parts of the joint can then be seen. The doctor may also require tests of fluid drawn from the joint. Depending upon the diagnosis, treatment of knee pain may include bed rest, antibiotics, a cast, crutches, or surgery.
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Tags: General health