Joint pain in children

Joint pain is a common complaint in children and occasionally – although rarely – a symptom of serious disease. It can affect up to 20% of children at any one time. We have attempted to present important points in the history, examination and investigation to help the clinician dealing with a child presenting with non-traumatic joint pain to distinguish those at risk of serious pathology from those children with a benign cause. We also present a management plan in the form of a flow chart for the children who present to the emergency department with a painful joint.