Health condition
Chest pain in children
Chest pain is common in children and - in sharp contrast to adults - almost never comes from the heart: chest wall pain, breathing-related pain and stress account for nearly all of it, with a short list of features that warrant cardiac assessment.
Why trust this guide
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Editorial team
Written by our editorial team from the UK sources listed on each page.
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Sourced from guidance
Checked against current NHS and UK specialist society guidance at the time of review.
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Current for 2026
Reviewed on 2026-09-27 with the next review scheduled for 2027-09-27.
Key facts
The essentials at a glance.
The symptoms to recognise, when to seek help, which specialist to see, and what treatment usually involves.
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Commonest causes: musculoskeletal pain (tender to touch, worse with movement or deep breaths), costochondritis, cough-related muscle strain, asthma and anxiety
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Reassuring features: sharp brief pains at rest, pain reproduced by pressing on the chest, pain that does not occur with exercise
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Features that warrant cardiac assessment: pain reliably brought on by exertion, pain with palpitations or fainting, or a family history of sudden unexplained death, cardiomyopathy or inherited heart rhythm problems
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Specialist: a consultant paediatric cardiologist for exertional or suspicious pain; ECG and echocardiogram answer the question
Understanding the condition
What it is and what happens next.
What causes it, how it is diagnosed, and the treatment routes available in the UK.
What it is and how it feels
A child clutching their chest triggers adult-calibrated alarm, but children's chests hurt for children's reasons: growing ribcages, sports knocks, coughing fits, inflamed rib cartilages and the tight-chested breathing of anxiety - the fleeting, needle-sharp pains many children describe at rest are particularly characteristic and particularly benign. Pain you can reproduce by pressing on the spot, or that catches with a deep breath or twist, is coming from the chest wall, not the heart.
Diagnosis and treatment routes
The features that change the calculus are few and specific: pain that arrives predictably during exertion, pain accompanied by racing palpitations, dizziness or fainting - especially fainting during exercise - and any family history of sudden early death, cardiomyopathy or inherited rhythm disorders. Those cases deserve a paediatric cardiology assessment with ECG and echocardiogram, which is quick, painless and definitive. For the great majority, the diagnosis is clinical, the treatment is reassurance plus simple analgesia or asthma or anxiety management as indicated, and sport should continue unrestricted. In many parts of the UK, routine NHS referrals for this kind of problem currently take 20-45+ weeks, whereas an initial appointment with a private consultant is typically available within around two weeks.
Seeing a specialist
Who to see, and how quickly you can be seen.
The specialist for this condition is usually a consultant paediatric cardiologist or paediatrician. Your GP can refer you on the NHS, or you can arrange a private consultation directly.
A quiet reminder
This guide is for information, not medical advice.
Your GP knows your history and can tell you which parts apply to you. If in doubt, see them - and seek urgent care for any of the emergency symptoms described above.
Frequently asked
Common questions about Chest pain in children.
Quick, plain-English answers to what people ask us most.
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What causes chest pain in children?
Chest pain in children is most often caused by relatively minor, non-heart-related issues, including musculoskeletal pain (from a minor injury, poor posture, or growth-related chest wall inflammation called costochondritis), respiratory infections, or asthma. Heart-related causes are much less common in children compared with adults, which is reassuring for most parents. A doctor can help clarify the likely cause based on the specific pattern of symptoms.
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Is chest pain in children usually serious?
In the vast majority of cases, no — chest pain in otherwise healthy children is rarely due to a serious heart problem and is much more commonly related to muscle strain, chest wall inflammation, or anxiety. However, certain features (such as pain during exercise, fainting, or a family history of heart conditions) warrant more careful assessment. Getting appropriate reassurance or investigation, as needed, generally resolves parental concern effectively.
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What symptoms would suggest a more serious cause?
Warning features include chest pain triggered specifically by exercise, chest pain with fainting or palpitations, a family history of sudden unexplained death or inherited heart conditions, or pain associated with fever and breathing difficulty (which could suggest infection). These features warrant prompt medical assessment rather than reassurance alone. Most chest pain without these features is unlikely to reflect a serious underlying cause.
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How is chest pain in children assessed?
Assessment typically includes a detailed history (including triggers, duration, and family history), physical examination, and sometimes an ECG or other tests if there are any concerning features. Most children with reassuring histories and examinations do not need extensive testing. Your GP or paediatrician can determine the appropriate level of investigation.
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What is costochondritis, and could that be the cause?
Costochondritis is inflammation of the cartilage connecting the ribs to the breastbone, a common and harmless cause of localised, often sharp chest pain in children and teenagers, frequently worsened by pressing on the area or certain movements. It usually resolves on its own with time and simple pain relief if needed. It is one of the most common causes of chest pain in this age group.
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Can anxiety cause chest pain in children?
Yes, anxiety and stress are common causes of chest pain in children and adolescents, sometimes associated with rapid breathing, a racing heart, or a feeling of tightness, particularly during stressful periods such as exams or family difficulties. Addressing the underlying anxiety, alongside reassurance about the physical symptoms, often resolves the chest pain. A GP can help identify this as a likely cause and suggest appropriate support.
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When should I see a doctor about my child's chest pain?
See a doctor if chest pain occurs with exercise, fainting, palpitations, or a relevant family history, or if you are simply concerned. Most cases can be assessed by a GP within a routine appointment, typically available within a few days on the NHS or sooner privately if reassurance is wanted quickly.