Musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders affect the muscles, bones, joints, and tissues. In children, they may be due to infection, cancer, inflammatory arthritis, or progressive muscle disorders.
MSK disorders in children may cause pain and impair a person’s movement. A child’s musculoskeletal system differs from an adult’s, so MSK disorders often present differently in children and adults.
This article discusses some of the most common categories of musculoskeletal disorders, but not all of them. It explains the symptoms of MSK disorders in children, some causes, types, and diagnosis. It also discusses when a person should contact a doctor if they notice symptoms of an MSK disorder in a child.
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The symptoms of MSK disorders in children can vary, depending on the underlying cause and type of the disorder.
According to Versus Arthritis, symptoms that may indicate a serious MSK disorder in a child include:
- severe joint pain
- a severe, painful, or chronic limp
- joint swelling
- deep, throbbing bone pain
- persistent night pain that does not respond to over-the-counter pain relief medication
- weakness
- regression, loss, or delay in
motor milestones - systemic symptoms, such as fatigue, weight loss, swollen lymph nodes, or a pale appearance
MSK disorders have various causes. Some conditions are congenital and present at birth, while others develop over time. Infection and tumors can also cause MSK issues. The following sections describe these causes in more detail.
Children are at especially high risk of infections. Many common infections are mild and treatable at home. However, others, such as those relating to MSK disorders, require attention from a healthcare professional.
Types
The
The bacteria Staphylococcus aureus most often causes osteomyelitis and septic arthritis. The bacteria may spread after entering
Osteomyelitis affects the bone marrow or bones. It is rare and affects around
Osteomyelitis in children
Septic arthritis affects
Without treatment, septic arthritis may permanently damage the joints. A doctor can treat the condition by draining fluid from the joint with a needle and prescribing antibiotics.
Read more about the causes of septic arthritis.
Malignant musculoskeletal tumors are rare in children. Signs of these types of cancer in children include unexplained bone pain and swelling and unexplained soft tissue lumps that are growing larger.
Types
Musculoskeletal cancers in children include bone tumors, which are
- osteosarcoma
- soft tissue sarcoma, most often Rhabdomyosarcoma
Malignant bone tumors account for
Bone cancer usually affects children during adolescence and tends to develop in bones that are growing rapidly. These include the bones around the knee and in the upper arm.
Soft tissue sarcomas account for around 7% of childhood cancers. The tumors can form in any soft tissue of the body, including the muscles, nerves, joints, and tendons.
Treatment for bone cancer and soft tissue sarcomas
A child with inflammatory arthritis may have swollen, painful joints, stiffness, new clumsiness, or an unwillingness to move around.
Types
The most common type of inflammatory arthritis in children is juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). JIA refers to a group of conditions that cause joint inflammation in children.
JIA occurs slightly more often in girls and usually develops in children of preschool age and teens.
Researchers do not know the exact causes of JIA, but the MSK disorder occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the joints.
Treatment can include medication, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs).
Progressive muscle conditions worsen over time. Muscular dystrophy (MD) refers to a group of
MD typically leads to muscle degeneration and weakness over time. This can affect various bodily movements and functions, including heart and lung function, which can shorten a person’s lifespan.
Types
There are many types of MD. The most common types include:
- Duchenne MD: This is the most common type of MD, which usually begins in early childhood. Someone with Duchenne MD will typically live into their 20s or 30s.
- Myotonic dystrophy: People with this type of MD may not have shortened lives unless the disorder is severe.
- Facioscapulohumeral MD: This type of MSK disorder is not usually life threatening and progresses slowly.
- Becker MD: This type of MD is related to Duchenne MD but is typically less severe.
- Emery-Dreifuss MD: This type occurs in childhood or during early adulthood. People with this type of MD usually live until at least middle age.
When a child presents with symptoms, such as joint or bone pain, doctors may first perform a physical examination and ask about a person’s family medical history.
A physical examination may
A doctor may then order several tests to help determine the cause. These may include:
A person needs to contact a doctor if a child has symptoms of an MSK disorder.
Some MSK disorders, such as septic arthritis, can result in severe complications without treatment. Others, such as bone and soft tissue cancer and MD, require medical care to reduce the severity of symptoms and, in some cases, to prolong a person’s life.
Several pediatric musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders exist. These include infectious types, such as osteomyelitis and septic arthritis, cancers, such as bone and soft tissue sarcomas, inflammatory arthritis, and progressive muscle disorders.
Many types of MSK disorders are rare in children but can be severe.
A person needs to contact a doctor if their child has symptoms of an MSK disorder. The disorders typically require medical attention and may lead to severe complications without treatment.