Pediatric Rheumatology Online Journal → August 2003 → Pain / Health-Related Quality of Life → Abstract #185
CHILDREN WITH GROWING PAINS HAVE DECREASED PAIN THRESHOLD
P. J. Hashkes,1 O. Friedland,2 L. Jaber,3 A. Cohen,4 B. Wolach,2 Y. Uziel.2
1Pediatrics, Sieff & Poriya Hospitals, Zafed, Israel; 2Pediatrics, Meir Hospital, Kfar Saba, Israel; 3Child Health Center, Taibee, Israel; 4Child Health Center, Petach Tikva, Israel
Background: The etiology and pathogenesis of childhood [quot>growing
pains'(GP) is unknown. There is an increased prevalence of pain syndromes, such as migraine headaches, in families of children with GP. GP may therefore represent a non-inflammatory pain syndrome, similar to fibromyalgia, in a younger age group. Patients with fibromyalgia have low pain thresholds demonstrated by pressure on typical tender points. Since GP is also a pain syndrome, our hypothesis was that the pain threshold in children with GP is lower when compared to controls.
Objective: To investigate whether the pain threshold in children diagnosed with GP is decreased.
Patients and methods: We studied 44 children with GP; 17 girls (mean age 8.1±2.4 years) and 27 boys (mean age 8.3±2.5). The diagnosed was confirmed by a pediatric rheumatologist. 46 healthy children, 18 girls (mean age 8.7±1.8) and 28 boys (mean age 8.5±1.4) served as control group. Pain threshold was assessed in predefined body area points using a Fisher type dolorimeter. We tested the 18 tender points of fibromyalgia, 3 control points, lower back, anterior tibia, and mid 3rd metatarsal bones.
Student"s t-tests were used to compare data of patients and healthy subjects.
Results: GP children had significantly reduced pain thresholds compared to healthy controls. The pain threshold in the 18 tender points of fibromyalgia was 3.8±0.7 kg/cm
Conclusion: Children with GP have significantly lower pain threshold than healthy controls. GP may represent a non-inflammatory pain syndrome in a young age group, similar to fibromyalgia.