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[Chest pain in adolescents].
G Raiola1, M C Galati, V De Sanctis
1U.O. di Pediatria, A.O. Pugliese-Ciaccio, Catanzaro, Italy.
Minerva Pediatrica
|October 22, 2002
Summary
Chest pain in children and adolescents is common and usually resolves on its own. Understanding its causes, including drug abuse and CO poisoning, is key for accurate diagnosis and treatment.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Adolescent Medicine
- Toxicology
Context:
- Chest pain is a frequent concern in pediatric and adolescent populations.
- It often causes significant anxiety for patients, families, and healthcare providers due to perceived links with serious cardiac conditions and sudden death.
- Differentiating benign causes from potentially life-threatening ones is crucial.
Purpose:
- To review the common causes of chest pain in children and adolescents.
- To discuss diagnostic approaches and treatment strategies.
- To highlight less common but critical causes such as drug abuse and carbon monoxide poisoning.
Summary:
- This review examines the etiology, diagnosis, and management of chest pain in pediatric and adolescent patients.
- Frequent causes are discussed alongside less common but important etiologies like cocaine use and carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.
- Accurate patient history and physical examination are emphasized for effective management.
Impact:
- Provides clinicians with a comprehensive overview for diagnosing and managing pediatric chest pain.
- Aids in alleviating unnecessary anxiety by clarifying common, self-limiting causes.
- Enhances awareness of critical differential diagnoses, including toxicological emergencies.