Parental accounts of the prevalence, causes and treatments of limb pain in children aged 5 to 13 years: a longitudinal cohort study.
The frequency, cause and treatment of limb pain were ascertained in a cohort of children at six time points between the ages of 5 and 13 years. Data were collected using self-completion questionnaires sent to the chief carers of children in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. Reports of limb pain over the study period doubled from 15.1% of children aged 5 to 32.5% aged 13; 3.4% of children had limb pain at all time points, 43.4% never reported limb pain and 56.6% reported limb pain on at least one occasion. Growing pains were the most common 'cause' given for limb pains. Limb pain and growing pains were each associated with a family history of arthritis and rheumatism. Limb pain prevalence may have been under-reported in this study due to gradual attrition, particularly in the less educated mothers among whom the highest prevalence of limb pain was reported.
Bishop
Jackie L
JL
School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 2PS, UK. jackie.bishop@bristol.ac.uk
Northstone
Kate
K
Emmett
Pauline M
PM
Golding
Jean
J
D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D001168:Arthritis / Q000235:genetics; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005121:Extremities; D005260:Female; D006128:Growth; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics; D010290:Parents; D015995:Prevalence; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000235:genetics