Chest pain in children

Chronic chest pain is a complaint that frequently prompts referral to pediatric cardiology clinics although very few pediatric patients with this symptom will be found to have cardiac disease. This review will discuss the common non-cardiac and cardiac causes of chest pain. Guidelines on the office management of this group of patients will be presented as well as the indications for referring patients for evaluation and treatment by the subspecialist.     

Acute Chest Pain

Chest pain is a worrisome symptom that often causes parents to bring their child to emergency department(ED) for evaluation. In the majority of cases, the etiology of the chest pain is benign, but in one-fourth of the cases symptoms are distressing enough to cause children to miss school. The clinician’s primary goal in ED evaluation of chest pain is to identify serious causes and rule out organic pathology. The diagnostic evaluation includes a thorough history and physical examination. Younger children are more likely to have a cardiorespiratory source for their chest pain, whereas an adolescent is more likely to have a psychogenic cause. Children having an organic cause of chest pain are more likely to have acute pain, sleep disturbance due to pain and associated fever or abnormal examination findings, whereas those with non-organic chest pain are more likely to have pain for a longer duration. Chest radiograph is required in some, especially in patients with history of trauma . In children, myocardial ischemia is rare, thus routine ECG is not required on every patient. However, both pericarditis and myocarditis can present with chest pain and fever. Musculoskeletal chest pain, such as caused by costochondritis and trauma, is generally reproducible on palpation and is exaggerated by physical activity or breathing. Pneumonia with or without pleural effusion, usually presents with fever and tachypnea; chest pain may be presenting symptom sometimes. In asthmatic children bronchospasm and persistent coughing can lead to excess use of chest wall muscles and chest pain. Patients’ who report acute pain and subsequent respiratory distress should raise suspicion of a spontaneous pneumothorax or pneumomediastinum. ED management includes analgesics, specific treatment directed at underlying etiology and appropriate referral.     

Methacholine Inhalation Challenge in Children with Idiopathic Chest Pain

Bronchial reactivity to inhaled methacholine (MCH) was evaluated in 32 patients with 'idiopathic' chest pain. Each pain was recurrent in nature. The incidence of cases with a provocative concentration causing a 20% fall in the forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (PC₂₀) of 10 mg/ml or less was 62.5% (20 cases), while it was only 11.1% (three cases) in 27 healthy controls. Seventeen patients had no personal history of allergic diseases, elevated serum lgE level or positive house dust mite-specific IgE antibody. Among these 17, eight (47.1%) had a PC₂₀ of 10 mg/ml or less, the incidence of which was also higher than that of the healthy controls. During the challenge, eight patients complained of chest pain similar to that experienced before. The present results indicate that bronchial hyper-reactivity is an important cause of 'idiopathic' chest pain. Patients with unexplained chest pain should be considered for inhalation challenge.     

Gastroesophageal reflux, eosinophilic esophagitis, and foreign body

Even though chest pain in children is a common complaint, an underlying gastrointestinal cause is rare. The four common gastrointestinal conditions that present with chest pain include eosinophilic esophagitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, esophageal dysmotility, and foreign body ingestion. Other than ingestion of certain foreign bodies, most of these conditions are not life-threatening. Associated symptoms and history may be helpful in distinguishing these disorders, but further evaluation is often indicated to identify the precise cause.     

Approach to the child with chest pain

Children frequently present to a pediatric office or emergency department with the complaint of chest pain. Between 0.3% and 0.6% of visits to a pediatric emergency department are for chest pain. Unlike adult patients with chest pain, most studies have shown that children with chest pain rarely have serious organic pathology. Infrequently, a child with chest pain will present with significant distress and require immediate resuscitation. Most children with chest pain are not in extremis, and for many, the pain is not acute in nature.     

Acute Chest Syndrome in Children with Sickle Cell Anemia

Vaso-occlusive crisis is the most common cause of morbidity in patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA). Those patients are frequently admitted with chest signs and symptoms suggesting an infective process. The term acute chest syndrome (ACS) is used to describe those chest episodes in SCA patients, and it is postulated that a primary bone vaso-occlusive crisis may be the cause of the acute chest syndrome in SCA patients. In this study we report 52 episodes of ACS in a group of 22 children with SCA. Chest pain, fever, and leukocytosis were a constant clinical finding. The hematological, radiological, and bacteriological studies are reported. There is a constant and significant fall in hemoglobin levels from 88 ± 10 g/L (8.8 ± 1.0 g/dl) to 68 ± 15 g/L (6.8 ± 5 g/dl). Unilateral or bilateral pulmonary basal infiltrations were found in 50 episodes. Pleural effusion was noticed in 60 episodes, and it was bilateral in three. No significant bacteriological findings were present.     

Treatment of pleural empyema

OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical presentation and treatment strategies for children admitted with pleural empyema. METHODOLOGY: Retrospective review of medical and radiological records of 54 patients admitted with pleural empyema between January 1989 and April 1997. RESULTS: Fever (98%), cough (83%), chest pain (38%), clinical cyanosis (17%) and abdominal pain (16%) were common clinical features. The causative organism was identified in 17 patients (31%). Intravenous antibiotics were given for a mean of 18. 2 +/- 7.5 days. Forty-seven (87%) patients had closed chest tube drainage and 21(39%) patients underwent decortication for unsatisfactory response to medical treatment. The chest tube insertion was more likely to be delayed in patients who required decortication, although the difference was not significant (8.1 +/- 5.4 vs 6.3 +/- 5.2 days of illness, P = 0.67). All patients were discharged well, with almost complete resolution of the chest radiograph at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Intensive medical management with adequate chest tube drainage and appropriate antibiotics will result in full resolution for most patients. Surgical intervention is important in patients who fail to receive adequate treatment early in the disease.     

Arrhythmogenic causes of chest pain in children

Although cardiac causes of chest pain in children are infrequent, arrhythmias are implicated in most cardiac related cases. The most common arrhythmias associated with chest pain are supraventricular tachycardias, but more ominous rhythms, such as ventricular tachycardia or bradycardias, can manifest as chest pain. Investigation of all children with chest pain suspected of arrhythmia should include detailed history and physical examination and a 12- or 15-lead electrocardiogram. In some cases echocardiogram, 24-hour Holter monitoring, exercise stress testing, or other cardiac evaluations may be indicated. Children with a history of cardiac disease or cardiac surgery are particularly at risk for arrhythmias and may experience chest pain in association with their arrhythmias.     

Evaluation of chest pain

Chest pain is a relatively common symptom in children. Evaluation is mainly clinical to exclude cardiac or organic causes of chest pain. Precordial catch syndrome is a benign cause of chest pain in children.     

Chest pain in adolescents

In children and in adolescents, chest pain is relatively common and self-limiting. The close association between chest pain, cardiopathies and sudden death is the cause of intense anxiety in boys and their parents and even doctors. The most frequent causes of chest pain, the diagnosis and the eventual treatment are examined. Finally, the causes of chest pain due to drug abuse (in particular cocaine) and to CO poisoning are also examined. Good knowledge of the problem, an accurate anamnesis and a careful objective exam are useful to choose the most suitable treatment.     

Chest pain in children: diagnosis through history and physical examination.

INTRODUCTION: Chest pain is a common complaint in the pediatric age group and can be a physically and emotionally distressing symptom. Although chest pain in children rarely indicates serious cardiac problems, chest pain is perceived as "heart pain" to most children and their families and presents a diagnostic challenge to health care providers. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted to identify specific factors in history taking and physical examination that permit accurate diagnosis of the cause of pediatric chest pain. Fifty children (ages 5-21 years; mean, 13 years), referred to the cardiology clinic with the chief complaint of chest pain, underwent systematic history taking, physical examination, and electrocardiogram testing. RESULTS: The following diagnoses were made: 38 children (76%) had musculoskeletal/costochondral chest pain, 6 children (12%) had exercise-induced asthma, 4 children (8%) had chest pain resulting from gastrointestinal causes, and 2 children (4%) had chest pain resulting from psychogenic causes. DISCUSSION: All the children in this study had noncardiac causes of their chest pain. This finding supports previous research suggesting that chest pain in children is rarely of cardiac origin. This article reviews the causes of pediatric chest pain and suggests an approach to its evaluation and management.     

8‐year old patient with giant hydatid cyst consulted with chest wall asymmetry

Cystic echinococcosis, a zoonotic disease, is common in Turkey and is caused by the Echinococcus granulosus tapeworm. We describe the case of an 8‐year‐old girl who was admitted to hospital with chest wall asymmetry after a fall from height, without any other symptoms. Cystic lesion was identified on radiology, and serology supported the diagnosis of hydatid cyst. The patient underwent thorax surgery. Postoperatively, she was treated with benzimidazoles for 2 months. Rarely, hydatid cysts can reach a size sufficiently large to cause chest deformity.     

Asthma and pneumonia

Chest pain remains a common complaint among children seeking care in the United States. Asthma and lower respiratory tract infections such as pneumonia can be significant causes of chest pain. Children with chest pain caused by either of these pulmonary etiologies generally present with associated respiratory symptoms, including cough, wheezing, tachypnea, respiratory distress, and/or fever. Although analgesic medications can improve chest pain associated with pulmonary pathologies, the mainstay of therapy is to treat the underlying etiology; this includes bronchodilator and/or steroid medications in children with asthma and appropriate antibacterial administration in children with suspicions of bacterial pneumonia. The chest pain generally resolves along with the resolution of other respiratory symptoms.     

Mesenchymal Hamartoma of Chest Wall in Infancy Natural History of Two Cases

Two cases of mesenchymal hamartoma of chest wall in infancy are reported. These distinctive and rare lesions arise in the antenatal period, present at birth OT in early life as chest wall masses with marked rib deformation, and may produce respiratory compromise through encroachment on the chest cavities. Histologically composed of chondroid and primitive mesenchymal elements with giant-cell formation, endochondral ossification, and maturation to trabecular bone, they exhibit some features of aneurysmal bone cyst. Because of their cellularity and proliferative appearance, they are often misinterpreted as sarcomas; however, they pursue a benign course and can be well managed surgically. OUT cases possessed multiple chest wall masses that were clinically apparent at birth and sequentially resected over a period of several months, creating an opportunity to document their hitherto unreported histologic evolution. Their pattern of maturation is in keeping with a hamartomous malformation.     

Elektrokardiographie in der kinderärztlichen Praxis

Approximately 2?% of asymptomatic children have electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities with the most common finding being a clinically insignificant right bundle branch block, followed by extrasystolia. From a clinical point of view, palpitations, thoracic pain and episodes of syncope are the most important symptoms for which a basic ECG examination is always warranted. While thoracic pain is a very common symptom in the outpatient setting, correlated cardiac reasons are found in only 0.7?% with the most common underlying causes being arrhythmia and myopericarditis. Syncope of cardiac origin is found in 6?%. Extrasystolia is the most common cause of palpitations in children and adolescents. In summary, the 12-lead ECG remains an important basic diagnostic tool in the work-up of symptoms such as palpitations, syncope and chest pain in the pediatric outpatient setting. Careful interpretation bearing all the various cardiac causes in mind is required to achieve a correct diagnosis.     

Chest wall deformities

Children present with chest wall deformities to their pediatrician because of physiologic and psychologic causes. We have a 22-year experience in the operative management of more than 300 of these children. Initial evaluation should accurately categorize the deformity, determine the severity, assess for associated problems and refer the child at an appropriate time for further management. Pectus carinatum is the most common deformity that can cause physical pain from an intercostal neuropathy and psychologic pain from the unsightly protuberance. Poland syndrome is managed by early correction of the hand deformity and later correction of the chest wall deformity if necessary for psychologic or functional reasons. Jeune syndrome and failure of sternal fusion may have severe associated cardiopulmonary compromise. Each should be corrected in infancy for the best results.     

Acute chest syndrome in children with sickle cell disease

Acute chest syndrome (ACS) is an acute pulmonic process in patients with sickle cell disease. We prospectively studied 50 patients with ACS admitted to the Pediatric Medical Ward during one year period (Jan. 1993 through Dec: 1993). Twenty eight of them were males and twenty two were females giving a male: female ratio of 1.2: 1. The age ranged between one and 12 years. Twelve (24%) of the patients had chest pain on presentation. Twenty seven (54%) patients had significant temperature (>38°C). The x-ray findings showed that the right lung was involved in 30 patients, the left in 10 patients and both lungs in 10 patlents. Three patients had pleural effusion that required chest tube insertion. Laboratory profiles showed that the erythrocyte sedimentation rate ranged between 15 and 90mm/h, and their hemoglobin ranged between 4.2 gm and 12 gm/dl. Seven (14%) patients had significantly positive mycoplasma pneumoniae titer. None of the blood cultures was positive. All of our patient received antibiotic, usually either Cefuroxime or Ceftriaxone with Erythromycin in addition to other supportive measures such as blood transfusion, oxygen therapy and hydration therapy.     

Back pain and spinal deformity in cystic fibrosis

Back pain is a common complaint of individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF). We studied back pain in our patient population in three ways: a questionnaire, an orthopedic evaluation, and a survey of chest roentgenograms. Forty-seven patients with CF reported back pain as compared with seven controls. Patients with CF showed decreased muscle strength and mobility in the trunk, chest, and shoulders. The incidence of structural kyphosis was only 8.7%, but many had vertebral wedging. Much of the back pain may be due to postural abnormalities or to vertebral wedging, not fixed structural kyphosis.     

Chest pain in pediatric patients presenting to a cardiac clinic

Records of 67 pediatric patients with a primary complaint of chest pain were reviewed to determine the frequency of associated cardiac disease. Only four of 67 (6%) had chest pain associated with cardiac diseases that usually cause chest pain. Fifty-seven (85%) patients had chest pain in which no clear cause could be determined. Of these 57, 20 patients also had isolated congenital cardiac anomalies, i.e., atrial septal defect. A causal relationship of these lesions to the chest pain could not be established. Thirty-four of the 37 patients with chest pain and no cardiac abnormalities were evaluated by telephone at a mean of 13 months after their clinic assessment. Twenty-nine of the 34 were either asymptomatic or had reduced symptoms. There was no correlation between duration of symptoms prior to their clinical study and the persistence of chest pain at follow-up. From this study, we conclude that chest pain in pediatric patients is infrequently due to cardiac disease even when associated with previously unsuspected, isolated congenital cardiac lesions. Idiopathic chest pain tends to be self-limited.