title: 15-minute consultation: a structured approach to the assessment of chest pain in a child.
abstract: This article aims to provide a concise, structured approach to the child with chest pain. Chest pain is a common presenting symptom in children but, unlike in adults, the cause is rarely cardiac. We review the main causes of chest pain in children and discuss the important features that may alert those assessing paediatric chest pain to serious underlying pathology. In the vast majority of cases, reassurance is all that is required and a thorough initial consultation can exclude rare, serious disease and provide vital reassurance to children and families.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Respiratory Medicine, Southampton Children's Hospital, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Samuel A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Intensive Care, Southampton Children's Hospital, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Griksaitis
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Respiratory Medicine, Southampton Children's Hospital, Southampton, UK National Institute of Health Research Biomedical Research Unit in Respiratory Disease, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Julian P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Legg
mesh_terms: D002637:Chest Pain / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking / Q000379:methods; D012017:Referral and Consultation
keywords: Accident & Emergency; Cardiology; Paediatric Practice; Pain; Respiratory