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How can you care for your child who has chest pain?
- Be safe with medicines. Give pain medicines exactly as directed.
- If the doctor gave your child a prescription medicine for pain, give it as prescribed.
- If your child is not taking a prescription pain medicine, ask your doctor if your child can take an over-the-counter medicine.
- Do not give your child two or more pain medicines at the same time unless the doctor told you to. Many pain medicines have acetaminophen, which is Tylenol. Too much acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be harmful.
- Help your child rest and protect the sore area.
- Have your child stop, change, or take a break from any activity that may be causing the pain or soreness.
- Put ice or a cold pack on the sore area for 10 to 20 minutes at a time. Try to do this every 1 to 2 hours for the next 3 days (when your child is awake) or until the swelling goes down. Put a thin cloth between the ice and your child's skin.
- After 2 or 3 days, apply a warm cloth to the area that hurts. Some doctors suggest that you go back and forth between hot and cold.
- Do not wrap or tape your child's ribs for support. This may cause your child to take smaller breaths, which could increase the risk of lung problems.
- Help your child follow your doctor's instructions for exercising.
- Even if it hurts, try to get your child to cough or take the deepest breath they can at least once every hour. This will get air deeply into the lungs. This may reduce the chance of getting pneumonia. Have your child hold a pillow against their chest to make this less painful.
- Gentle stretching and massage may help your child get better faster. Have your child stretch slowly to the point just before pain begins, and hold the stretch for 15 to 30 seconds. Do this 3 or 4 times a day, just after you have applied heat.
- As your child's pain gets better, have them slowly return to normal activities. Any increased pain may be a sign that your child needs to rest a while longer.
Chest pain in children: When to call
Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:
- Your child has any trouble breathing.
- Your child has new or different chest pain.
- Your child is dizzy or lightheaded, or feels like they may faint.
Watch closely for changes in your child's health, and be sure to contact your doctor if your child does not get better as expected.
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The content above contains general health information provided by Healthwise, Incorporated, and reviewed by its medical experts. This content should not replace the advice of your healthcare provider. Not all treatments or services described are offered as services by us. For recommended treatments, please consult your healthcare provider.