Your child’s ribs are joined to the breastbone (sternum). This is the long, flat bone in front of the chest. If these joints or the cartilage around the ribs becomes inflamed, it's called costochondritis. This is a common condition in preteens. Costochondritis causes tenderness on the sides of the breastbone. Your child may have mild swelling and sharp pain with breathing or coughing. Costochondritis often follows a viral illness that causes the child to cough a lot. It can also be linked to carrying a heavy school bag. It may also follow an injury, such as a fall or a car crash.
Costochondritis pain may last for weeks, but over time it goes away on its own. The usual treatment is to take ibuprofen for 1 to 2 weeks as instructed on the label to ease discomfort. Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory medicine. You can buy it over the counter. Your child may also need to take medicine to stop a cough. These are also available over the counter. Ask your doctor to recommend specific medicines if you aren't sure what to give your child.
Home care
Follow the doctor’s instructions for giving medicines to your child. Don’t give any medicines that the doctor has not approved.
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Allow your child to rest as needed. Give pain medicine before an activity or before your child sleeps at night.
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Put a covered heating pad or warm cloth on the area for 20 minutes. Do this 4 times a day. This may ease pain and swelling. You can also switch between heat with cold. You can make a cold pack by wrapping a bag of chipped ice or frozen vegetables in a thin towel.
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Have your child hold a pillow against their chest to ease pain when coughing.
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Talk with your child about how they are feeling and what helps ease pain. Talk with your child’s doctor if prescribed medicines don’t relieve the pain.
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Ask the doctor about exercises to stretch the chest muscles and ease pain. Exercises should not be done if they cause your child any pain.
Follow-up care
Follow up with your child’s doctor, or as advised.
Special note to parents
Your child should not play sports until the doctor says it’s okay.
When to get medical advice
Contact your child’s doctor right away if your child has:
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A fever.
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Pain that doesn’t get better (or that gets worse) even with medicine.
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Chest pain that doesn't get better in 7 days.
Call 911
This is the fastest and safest way to get to the emergency department. The paramedics can also start treatment on the way to the hospital.
Call
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Has trouble breathing, shortness of breath, or fast breathing.
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Has a change in the type of pain, or the pain gets worse.
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Has palpitations or feels that their heart is racing or beating fast.
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Acts very ill or is too weak to stand.
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