Chest pain can cause a feeling of tightness or a burning sensation in the chest. Sometimes it can happen along with coughing or wheezing. It’s rarely a sign of something serious in kids.
Common causes of chest pain include:
Most of the time, chest pain goes away with little or no treatment.
Costochondritis usually goes away on its own. But it can help to give over-the-counter pain medicine and apply a warm compress or a heating pad (on low) to the affected area.
For a contusion or Tietze disease, giving pain medicine can ease symptoms until the area heals. Apply a cold compress to a contusion. To do this, wrap ice in a cloth and apply it to the area for 20 minutes every 3–4 hours for 2 days.
Kids with GERD may need to make diet or lifestyle changes to ease symptoms. Some make also need to take medicine.
Most of the time, chest pain in kids and teens isn’t serious. But call the doctor if chest pain happens with trouble breathing or rapid breathing, a fast heartbeat, dizziness or fainting, chest pressure, or a blue or gray color around the lips.
All A to Z dictionary entries are regularly reviewed by KidsHealth medical experts.
Reviewed by: KidsHealth Medical Experts
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