Zhang Wenni, Xu Ximing, Leng Hongyao, Shen Qiao, Lu Qiufan, Zheng Xianlan
National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatric Metabolism and Inflammatory Diseases, Chongqing, China.
Department of Endocrinology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Pain Rep. 2024 May 31;9(4):e1164. doi: 10.1097/PR9.0000000000001164. eCollection 2024 Aug.
Growing pains are the most common cause of musculoskeletal pain in children, affecting both children's and caregivers' well-being. The lack of definitive diagnostic criteria complicates diagnosis and treatment.
This study aims to outline the clinical features and identify factors associated with the frequency and intensity of growing pains in children in Chongqing, China.
A cross-sectional study was conducted in a children's hospital using its Internet hospital follow-up platform. Children initially diagnosed with growing pains between July and September 2022 were enrolled. Sociodemographics, pain locations, duration, frequency, intensity, and potentially related factors were collected.
Eight hundred sixty-three children were enrolled (average age: 8.19 ± 3.24 years; 455 boys [52.72%]). Pain frequency was reported as quarterly (62.11%), monthly (24.80%), biweekly (1.74%), weekly (10.08%), and daily (1.27%). The prevalence of mild, moderate, and severe pain was 26.65%, 55.74%, and 17.61%, respectively. The knee was the most common pain location (63.85%), mostly encountered between 4 pm and 5 pm (20.51%). Multivariate analysis revealed that pain frequency negatively correlated with vitamin supplementation during pregnancy, positively correlated with underweight, bad temper, increased exercise, and cold lower extremities. Pain intensity positively correlated with irritability, increased exercise, and pain sensitivity but negatively correlated with age and vitamin supplementation during lactation.
Growing pains typically occur on a quarterly basis, predominantly affecting the knees during 4 pm to 5 pm. Factors in sociodemographics, maternal aspect, temperament, and exercise levels can influence pain frequency and intensity. Clinicians should consider these aspects when developing comprehensive strategies for pain management.
生长痛是儿童肌肉骨骼疼痛最常见的原因，影响儿童及其照顾者的健康。缺乏明确的诊断标准使诊断和治疗变得复杂。
本研究旨在概述中国重庆儿童生长痛的临床特征，并确定与生长痛频率和强度相关的因素。
在一家儿童医院利用其互联网医院随访平台进行了一项横断面研究。纳入2022年7月至9月期间最初被诊断为生长痛的儿童。收集社会人口统计学信息、疼痛部位、持续时间、频率、强度以及潜在相关因素。
共纳入863名儿童（平均年龄：8.19±3.24岁；455名男孩[52.72%]）。疼痛频率报告为每季度（62.11%）、每月（24.80%）、每两周（1.74%）、每周（10.08%）和每天（1.27%）。轻度、中度和重度疼痛的患病率分别为26.65%、55.74%和17.61%。膝关节是最常见的疼痛部位（63.85%），大多在下午4点至5点出现（20.51%）。多因素分析显示，疼痛频率与孕期补充维生素呈负相关，与体重不足、脾气暴躁、运动量增加和下肢受凉呈正相关。疼痛强度与易怒、运动量增加和疼痛敏感性呈正相关，但与年龄和哺乳期补充维生素呈负相关。
生长痛通常每季度发生一次，主要在下午4点至5点影响膝关节。社会人口统计学、母亲方面、气质和运动水平等因素会影响疼痛频率和强度。临床医生在制定疼痛管理综合策略时应考虑这些方面。
