Chest Pain in Children: Care Instructions

How can you care for your child at home?

• Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label.
  • If your child is not taking a prescription pain medicine, ask your doctor if your child can take an over-the-counter medicine.
  • If the doctor gave your child a prescription medicine for pain, give it as prescribed.
  • Store your child’s prescription pain medicines where no one else can get to them. When you are done using them, dispose of them quickly and safely. Your local pharmacy or hospital may have a drop-off site.
• Help your child rest and protect the sore area.
• Have your child stop, change, or take a break from any activity that may be causing the pain or soreness.
• Put ice or a cold pack on the sore area for 10 to 20 minutes at a time. Try to do this every 1 to 2 hours for the next 3 days (when your child is awake) or until the swelling goes down. Put a thin cloth between the ice and your child's skin.
• After 2 or 3 days, you can try applying heat to your child's chest. Apply heat for 10 to 20 minutes at a time, several times a day. Types of heat therapy include microwavable packs and disposable heating patches.Put a thin cloth between the heat and your child's skin. You might also try switching between ice and heat.
• Do not wrap or tape your child's ribs for support. This may cause your child to take smaller breaths, which could increase the risk of lung problems.
• Help your child follow your doctor's instructions for exercising.
• Even if it hurts, try to get your child to cough or take the deepest breath they can at least once every hour. This will get air deeply into the lungs. This may reduce the chance of getting pneumonia. Have your child hold a pillow against their chest to make this less painful.
• Gentle stretching and massage may help your child feel better after a few days of rest. Have your child stretch slowly to the point just before pain begins, and hold the stretch for 15 to 30 seconds. Do this 3 or 4 times a day, just after you have applied heat.
• As your child's pain gets better, have them slowly return to normal activities. Any increased pain may be a sign that your child needs to rest a while longer.

When should you call for help?

Contact your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:

• Your child has any trouble breathing.
• Your child has new or different chest pain.
• Your child is dizzy or lightheaded, or feels like they may faint.

Watch closely for changes in your child's health, and be sure to contact your doctor if your child does not get better as expected.