Version July 2025
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What are discharge instructions? —
Discharge instructions are information about how to take care of your child after getting medical care in the emergency department ("ED").
What should I know? —
Your child was seen in the ED for chest pain.
Many things can cause chest pain in children. Some are serious things like heart or lung problems. But usually, chest pain in children is caused by something less serious. Examples include a muscle cramp or strain, irritation where the ribs meet the breastbone during a growth spurt, acid reflux (when acid normally in the stomach backs up into the esophagus), or stress. Doctors cannot always find a specific cause of a child's chest pain.
In children, chest pain often comes and goes over days to week without causing serious harm.
The doctor thinks your child's chest pain is likely not caused by something serious. They can recover at home.
How do I care for my child at home? —
Ask the doctor or nurse what you should do when you go home. Make sure you understand exactly what you need to do to care for your child. Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.
You should also do the following:
●Call your child's regular doctor and tell them your child was in the ED. Make a follow-up appointment if you were told to.
●If your child's chest pain is caused by muscle or bone pain and lasts longer than a few minutes, give your child non-prescription medicines to relieve pain, such as acetaminophen (sample brand name: Tylenol) and ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin). Never give aspirin to a child younger than 18 years old.
●If touching a spot on your child's chest causes pain, or if their pain is caused by exercise, ice might help at first, then heat:
•For the first 24 to 48 hours, place an ice pack or a bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel over the painful part. Never put ice right on the skin. Do not leave the ice on more than 20 minutes at a time.
•After that, you can use heat, if the doctor tells you to. (Do not use heat if your child has sharp pain or after an acute injury. Heat can make swelling worse.) Put a heating pad on the painful part for no more than 20 minutes at a time. Never let your child go to sleep with a heating pad on, since this can cause burns.
●If the doctor did not find a cause of your child's chest pain, keep a pain diary. This might help you and your child's regular doctor figure out if there is a pattern. Anytime your child has chest pain, write down:
•The date and time
•Where the pain is
•How the pain feels (dull, sharp, burning, stabbing, or cramping)
•What might have caused the pain
•What makes the pain better or worse
When should I get emergency help?
●Call for emergency help right away (in the US and Canada, call 9-1-1) if your child:
•Passes out
•Has a very hard time breathing, or has blue lips
•Is so short of breath they cannot talk in a full sentence, or have trouble eating or drinking
●Return to the ED if your child:
•Has chest pain during exercise
•Has pain every time they take a deep breath
When should I call the doctor? —
Call for advice if:
●Your child's pain does not improve in 1 week.
●Your child has new or worsening symptoms.
Patient education: Chest pain (The Basics)
Patient education: Pleuritic chest pain (The Basics)
Patient education: Angina (The Basics)
Patient education: Chest pain (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Angina treatment — medical versus interventional therapy (Beyond the Basics)
