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Costochondritis, Pediatric

Richard M. Kravitz, MD Reviewed 10/2018
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

Costochondritis is chest pain that emanates from a costal cartilage and is reproducible on compression of that cartilage. 

EPIDEMIOLOGY

  • Frequency of sternal wound infections following ...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Inflammatory costochondritis

    • Pain usually preceded by exercise or an upper respiratory tract infection

    • Description of pain

      • Usually sharp

      • Affects the anterior chest wall

      • Localized or radiat...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Inflammatory costochondritis

    • Anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents

    • Reassurance

    • If pain disturbs normal activities and sports, infiltration with local anesthetic may prove usefu...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Patient Monitoring

  • Inflammatory costochondritis

    • Long-lasting condition

    • Follow-up once a year is recommended.

  • Infectious costochondritis

    • Long-term follow-up after surge...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Brown RT, Jamil K. Costochondritis in adolescents. A follow-up study. Clin Pediatr (Phila).  1993;32(8):499–500. [View Abstract on OvidInsights]

  • Kocis KC. Chest pain in pediatri...

CODES

ICD9

733.6 Tietze’s disease 

ICD10

M94.0 Chondrocostal junction syndrome [Tietze] 

SNOMED

  • 64109004 Costalchondritis (disorder)

  • 30128009 Tietze’s disease

FAQ

  • Q: Am I having or will I have a heart attack?

  • A: Chest pain does not imply a heart problem. This pain arises from the chest wall; there is no risk of a myocardial infarction. A cardiac etiology to ...

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