Table of contents:
- What is precordial catch syndrome?
- Signs and symptoms of chest pain in children
- What causes precordial catch syndrome?
- Can precordial catch syndrome cause complications?
- Precordial catch syndrome treatment
- Can it be prevented?
As a parent, you will panic and worry when your child complains of pain in certain parts of the body - especially chest pain, either that feels sudden or makes it difficult for the child to breathe. Although chest pain that is experienced by a child is not a warning sign of a heart attack, you still need to know what caused it. The condition of chest pain in children is called precordial catch syndrome. Is it dangerous?
What is precordial catch syndrome?
Precordial catch syndrome (PCS) is a chest pain that feels stabbing. Precordial means "in front of the heart", so the source of the pain is only concentrated in the chest in front of the heart.
Precordial catch syndrome most commonly affects children aged 6 years, adolescents, and young adults from 20 years of age, who have no history of any underlying heart defects or disorders. PCS chest pain is neither a serious medical condition nor an emergency, as it is usually harmless.
Signs and symptoms of chest pain in children
Precordial catch syndrome is commonly experienced by people who do not have a history of any heart defects. That's why PCS often shows no symptoms or significant physical changes. The heart rate of children who have PCS is normal, so they do not show a pale face or a wheezing sound (breath sounds "giggling").
However, the most common symptom of PCS is prolonged shallow breathing. Some of the other signs and symptoms of precordial catch syndrome can include:
- Chest pain while resting, especially when the child is bending over.
- Complaining is like being pricked by a needle in the chest.
- The pain is concentrated in only one part of the chest, usually under the left nipple.
- The pain gets worse with deep breathing
- Occurs very briefly, only once or more than once a day.
Symptoms of chest pain in children due to PCS can worsen with the inhalation, but generally go away on their own after lasting less than a few minutes.
The severity of precordial catch syndrome varies between young children and young adults. Some people will experience pain that is bothersome, while others will experience excruciating pain that causes a momentary loss of vision.
What causes precordial catch syndrome?
In most cases of precordial catch syndrome it is not clear what causes it. It is thought that the chest pain caused by PCS is caused by cramping of the muscles or nerves pinched in the lining of the lung covering (pleura). Symptoms may disappear and appear suddenly in a short time, ranging from pain in the chest wall, ribs, or connective tissue.
Additionally, precordial catch syndrome can occur due to a growth spurt (growth spurt), poor posture such as the habit of slouching while sitting or watching TV, or trauma from a blow to the chest.
Can precordial catch syndrome cause complications?
You don't need to take it off. Precordial catch syndrome is not a dangerous medical condition, and usually resolves in a short time without special treatment. Also, there are no health complications associated with this issue that are worth worrying about.
Precordial catch syndrome can disappear as the child gets older.
However, if the chest pain continues and the symptoms even get worse, you should discuss it further with your doctor. The doctor will take a complete medical history, assess symptoms, and ask about other health problems before carrying out a physical examination of the child.
Precordial catch syndrome treatment
Chest pain in children due to precordial catch syndrome generally goes away on its own, so it doesn't need special treatment. However, if the pain is too bothersome, the doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs to help relieve the pain.
If the child feels chest pain when taking a deep breath, teach the child to take shallow breaths until the pain goes away. Encourage the child to gradually correct incorrect posture, for example from the habit of bending over when sitting to becoming straighter with the shoulders back. This can help reduce chest pain due to precodial catch syndrome.
Can it be prevented?
If chest pain in children is caused by a growth spurt, this cannot be prevented. However, if it is caused by bad posture due to the habit of slouching, PCS chest pain can be prevented by getting the child accustomed to sitting and standing upright to reduce the risk.
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