Growing pains

Growing pains are a common and usually benign condition experienced by children, characterized by recurrent episodes of discomfort or pain, primarily in the lower extremities. First described in the 1800s, the term 'growing pains' encapsulates a symptom complex typically seen in young children between the ages of 2 and 12 years. Despite the name, these pains are not directly linked to growth spurts or periods of rapid growth.

Children with growing pains often report bilateral leg pain that occurs late in the day or at night, sometimes awakening them from sleep. The pain is typically intermittent, with periods of pain-free days or even months. The exact cause of growing pains remains unclear, but they are generally considered to be a part of normal childhood development.

In most cases, growing pains are self-limiting and resolve by adolescence. They do not indicate any serious underlying disease and are not associated with any long-term complications.