Prevalence of "growing pains" in young children.
We estimated the prevalence of recurrent leg pains, often described as "growing pains" in children 4 to 6 years of age in South Australia. We used a survey of the parents of children 4 to 6 years of age, using a validated questionnaire previously developed for this purpose. The sample was systematic and randomized across rural and urban regions, with a total of 1445 valid responses achieved. Frequency statistics were used to obtain the prevalence estimate. The prevalence estimate obtained was 36.9% (95% CI, 32.7-41.1). This study estimated the prevalence of growing pains in a well-designed sample by using a validated instrument of measure. Previous studies have not addressed this age range discretely. The prevalence estimate demonstrates the community impact of this often disregarded condition.
School of Health Science, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia. angela.evans@postgrads.unisa.edu.au
Angela Margaret
AM
Evans
Sheila Doreen
SD
Scutter
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011897:Random Allocation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires