Backache

According to statistics, teens are more likely to experience back pain than younger children. Probably, this is due to the fact that the cause of pain is usually more physical activity. Back pain, arising from the overexertion of some muscles, is significantly weakened after two days and usually completely disappear after 10-14 days.

Sometimes back pain is accompanied by symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, "sharp" abdomen, high fever, soreness when urinating or when coughing, pain in the hip area. There may be muscle spasms, swelling of the spine, limp or unusual gait. Such additional symptoms should already alarm you and force you to see a doctor.

Possible causes of

Backaches are most often caused by stretching of the dorsal muscles, especially if the teenager is an athlete or recently engaged in a tense, new physical activity for him, or maybe a symptom accompanying an infectious disease.

Muscle stretching or overstrain

Muscle pain is usually easy to recognize by touching the painful back area or pressing it;parents can easily determine the location of the stretch. Often, the cause of the pain can be determined by forcing the child to repeat the physical movements that he used earlier, for example, throwing the ball, holding the grip in the fight, etc.

Back injury

Swelling in the touch, even with a loose muscle or in the absence of bruises( bruises), scratches or cuts is usually caused by a stroke or other injury, rather than stretching or overstraining muscles. In adolescents engaged in violent sports( football, for example), there may be a disc shift. Then there is intermittent or constant pain in the lumbar region or buttocks, the pain gives to the calves of the legs. Back pain is accompanied by coughing or sneezing.

Posture disorders

Acute pain from poor posture is rare. Minor recurring pains due to the violation of posture can not be solved by a simple order: "Stop right!" It is necessary to force the child to exercise more and develop a common system of muscular support.

Vertebrae deformity

Vertebrae can be wedge-shaped in place of the normal shape of the blocks, causing excessive curvature of the spine. And as a consequence of this - back pain .In other cases, one vertebra can move relative to another and press on it, causing pain.

Inflammation of the disc

This inflammation of the connective cartilage between the discs is common in preschool children, and this happens more often in girls. A small child during this illness sometimes even refuses to sit or walk. Often the temperature rises.

Often the child will tend to lie on his stomach. This happens when the child is injured in the back. There are pains in the lower back, the hip region, there is lameness. Over that part of the spine that contains the inflamed disc, usually a swelling occurs. Spasms of the muscles near the disc and increased pain can be observed when the child straightens his legs and tries to lift them.

Usually, this condition, which is supposed to be caused by a viral or bacterial infection, lasts from two to five weeks, but in any case should not exceed 12 weeks.

Other causes of

In addition to the reasons listed above, it is possible to single out in a separate group cases when back pain accompanies a serious disease.

Urinary tract infection, , accompanied by pain in the lower abdomen and back, burning with urination, fever.

Appendicitis peritonitis ( infection of the lining of the peritoneum) is a very serious disease that can accompany( along with back pain) nausea, vomiting, pain in the stomach, a hard stomach and high fever.

Tumors.

Meningitis. Symptoms of meningitis include severe headache, high fever, stiff neck( the child's inability to touch the chin without feeling pain in the neck), muscle spasms and pain experienced while raising a straight leg;these children look very sick.

Arthritis or osteomyelitis( infectiousness). Symptoms of these diseases may include lameness or reluctance to walk, swelling and a feeling of heat over the joint or bone;In children's rheumatoid arthritis, pain is often felt in the upper back and in the neck;stiffness in movements;Arthritic pains usually increase in the morning or after prolonged physical inactivity, rest.

• Emotional reactions( such as anxiety or depression). In this case, back pain will be more general in the absence of other symptoms( fever, for example).

Pneumonia. Cough and fever are predominant symptoms, but chest pain may also be present;Attempts to cough up the cough can lead to pain or tension in the chest or back.

If the child is unable to move his arms or legs or has a severe back or neck injury, do not touch it, leave it in one position. Immediately call an ambulance and provide transportation to the personnel.

The inability of the child to move his arms or legs sometimes indicates a fracture. Trying to examine the child yourself, you can cause even greater harm. Remember that any possible neck injury can be very serious, and the intervention of a layman can lead to grave consequences.

One of the easiest means for back pain is aspirin. It is good for sunburn, for muscle or bone disease.

The affected area of ​​the back should be treated dry( heating pad, heating pad) or wet heat( wet towel, hot shower).If, after these simple treatments, the condition improves after 24-48 hours, it seems that the child's muscular pains are weakened and home treatment can be treated. It helps in this case, rest and easy activity for the development of muscles. Full rest is not required. It is necessary to avoid jumping, contact sports games, intensified exercises until the pain does not pass.

If soreness in the back is associated with muscle overload or if the child needs to strengthen the back muscles, physical education and massage will be the best way.

Massage

Light massage and back rubbing often help with minor muscle pains and sprains. In addition, massage, like physical education, helps to strengthen the muscles, and consequently, to prevent such diagnoses as curvature of the spine.

It should be remembered that in case of incorrect posture, for example when sitting in an uncomfortable position at the table, minor pain may return.

Physical exercises

A program of regular, well-planned exercises often helps to strengthen supporting muscles and prevent j back problems. It is possible to recommend a program of general physical fitness strengthening, connected with aerobics, fast walking, running, cycling. Below we have given several exercises useful for the back.

These exercises have a beneficial effect on the muscles of the body, and therefore relieve mild back pain.

The child should lie on his back on the floor, legs stretched. Bend the legs in the knees, press them to the chest, and then return to their original position.

The child lies on the floor on his back with knees bent at the knees, his feet rest against the floor, his hands are pressed criss-cross to his chest. You need to raise your chest slightly until your back is off the floor, and then return to the starting position.

This exercise can be performed in a different way.

The child lies on his back on the floor with his knees bent, his feet rest on the floor. The lower part of the spine is pressed to the floor, so that the whole spine is attached to it. Hold this position for a few seconds, and then allow the natural bending of the back to lift the lower part of the spine from the floor.

However, be careful: these exercises can not be started if the child has pain!

When the pain stops, the child can begin the exercise program with several repetitions every 5-10 minutes. The duration of exercise is 20 minutes.

If the child's back pain is more serious, seek medical advice immediately!

has a swelling over the spine;

pain does not subside for two days;

there are other, at first glance, non-dangerous symptoms( limping, refusal to walk), which may indicate inflammation of the disc);

• The child complains of ear pain for several hours and paracetamol or cold or warm compresses do not relieve pain;

• The child feels too much pain in the ear;pain arose after an ear trauma;

pain in the ear is accompanied by fever, inability to turn the neck, dizziness, unsteady gait;

the child at the age of less than one year is crying, excited, he has a fever.

back pain is accompanied by vomiting, nausea, hard abdomen, pain in the lower abdomen or high fever( appendicitis is possible);

muscle spasms or difficulty in lifting the straightened leg( possible meningitis);

has been hit or injured to the back, which causes severe pain or impairs the child's ability to move, especially if the stroke was severe.;

is feverish, there is burning sensation during urination or frequent urination associated with back pain.

there are symptoms of appendicitis;the child is mobile, but acute pain persists;The complaint is accompanied by other serious symptoms, such as fever.

The doctor will carefully study the case, paying special attention to the causes and features of the appearance of back pain in the child. Information about the latest actions of the child, about his illnesses, and information about family members with the same complaints will help the doctor to diagnose correctly and prescribe the right treatment.

If it is determined that the child has received a blow on the back or has another injury, the doctor is more likely to offer a roentgenogram of the spine. Symptoms of inflammation of the disc will also require an X-ray study. Further investigation of the spinal area can be carried out using complex computer diagnostics. The doctor, most likely, will offer to pass the analysis of urine. If there is blood in the urine, this may indicate a possible kidney damage.

If back pain is accompanied by fever, you can think of an infection or inflammation of the spine. In this situation, it is necessary to conduct a complete blood test and other laboratory tests and, after the examination, to prescribe the appropriate treatment.

You can not rush to call a doctor if:

• earache is a short-term event that lasts less than a quarter of an hour, and the child otherwise looks healthy and the pain no longer returns;

• The pain is short-lived and is explained by an obvious simple cause( for example, flight, sudden descent, lifting or strong blowing).

• Pain in the child's ear lasts up to one hour or if the pain can be reduced by applying cold or warm compresses to the neck or ear.

no obvious or noticeable cause of pain.