Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsRiskComplicationsTreatmentHow to Stay SafeFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Risk
Complications
Treatment
How to Stay Safe
Frequently Asked Questions
Chest pain fromcostochondritisis a symptom that may be experienced after a COVID-19 infection. It is along COVIDsymptom, meaning it persists for an extended period of time after a person recovers from COVID-19. Costochondritis after a COVID-19 illness is seen most often in children.
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Costochondritis and COVID-19 Risk
COVID-19 can cause debilitating, lingering symptoms long after the infection has resolved. One of those symptoms is costochondritis.
COVID-19 is associated with inflammation in the lungs and other parts of the body, such as the heart, brain, and muscles. Children are particularly susceptible to inflammation of the cartilage that attaches to the sternum.
Currently, no studies have determined the number of cases of costochondritis. But the likelihood of developing this symptom is lower with COVID-19 vaccination due to the lower rates of infection and slightly lower risk of developing long COVID symptoms.
Complications of Costochondritis and COVID-19
If you are unvaccinated or have an underlying health condition, you are more likely to experience COVID-19-related complications in general, including costochondritis. The following long-term symptoms and medical conditions are common after a bout of COVID-19:
Costochondritis is usually a benign (harmless) condition that goes away on its own in a few days or weeks, with or without treatment. Still, it can be extremely painful and debilitating, especially in children.
Treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Advil or Motrin (ibuprofen), Aleve (naproxen), meloxicam, orColcrys (colchicine)can be initiated to reduce pain and preserve quality of life.If left untreated, costochondritis may lead to anxiety and recurring episodes.
Costochondritis Treatments and COVID-19
Costochondritis post-COVID-19 chest pain in children usually is unresponsive to common NSAIDs and treatments such ascorticosteroid injections.
The best way to prevent post-COVID medical complications is to protect yourself from getting and transmitting COVID-19. To avoid acquiring and transmitting the virus:
Of note, even if you have had COVID-19, it is still important to get vaccinated. Vaccination reduces your risk of hospitalization and death. Research suggests that those who receive the vaccine have a lower risk of infection and are less likely to develop long-COVID symptoms such as costochondritis compared to those who do not.
Summary
Costochondritis, a painful chest pain due to swelling of the cartilage that attaches to the sternum, is a rare post-COVID symptom that some children may experience. It may be treated with NSAIDS and colchicine.
A Word From Verywell
If your child is experiencing musculoskeletal chest pain long after their infection has cleared up, they may be experiencing costochondritis.
It’s important to note that costochondritis is not the only form of chest pain associated with COVID-19. Therefore, you should never assume, even in children, that chest pain is a harmless symptom that will simply go away.
While costochondritis is a highly treatable and relatively benign condition, other forms of chest pain may be life-threatening. Therefore, if you or your child experiences chest pain, seek immediate medical attention.
Frequently Asked QuestionsYes. The COVID-19 vaccine lowers your risk of infection and reduces the likelihood of long-COVID symptoms such as costochondritis, especially in children.Learn MoreVaccination and Lowering Long COVID RiskThere is no evidence that costochondritis puts you at higher risk of develop serious complications from COVID-19Learn MoreHow COVID-19 Affects the HeartCostochondritis after a COVID-19 illness can affect anyone, but it seems to be much more prevalent in children.Learn MoreChronic COVID-19 in Children
Yes. The COVID-19 vaccine lowers your risk of infection and reduces the likelihood of long-COVID symptoms such as costochondritis, especially in children.Learn MoreVaccination and Lowering Long COVID Risk
Yes. The COVID-19 vaccine lowers your risk of infection and reduces the likelihood of long-COVID symptoms such as costochondritis, especially in children.
Learn MoreVaccination and Lowering Long COVID Risk
There is no evidence that costochondritis puts you at higher risk of develop serious complications from COVID-19Learn MoreHow COVID-19 Affects the Heart
There is no evidence that costochondritis puts you at higher risk of develop serious complications from COVID-19
Learn MoreHow COVID-19 Affects the Heart
Costochondritis after a COVID-19 illness can affect anyone, but it seems to be much more prevalent in children.Learn MoreChronic COVID-19 in Children
Costochondritis after a COVID-19 illness can affect anyone, but it seems to be much more prevalent in children.
Learn MoreChronic COVID-19 in Children
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Collins RA, Ray N, Ratheal K, Colon A.Severe post-COVID-19 costochondritis in children.Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent). 2021;35(1):56-57. doi:10.1080/08998280.2021.1973274Reardon S.Long COVID risk falls only slightly after vaccination, huge study shows.Nature. 2022:d41586-022-01453-0. doi:10.1038/d41586-022-01453-0Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Long COVID or post-COVID conditions.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How to protect yourself and others.Ayoubkhani D, Bermingham C, Pouwels KB, et al.Trajectory of long COVID symptoms after COVID-19 vaccination: community based cohort study.BMJ. 2022;377. doi:10.1136/bmj-2021-069676
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Collins RA, Ray N, Ratheal K, Colon A.Severe post-COVID-19 costochondritis in children.Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent). 2021;35(1):56-57. doi:10.1080/08998280.2021.1973274Reardon S.Long COVID risk falls only slightly after vaccination, huge study shows.Nature. 2022:d41586-022-01453-0. doi:10.1038/d41586-022-01453-0Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Long COVID or post-COVID conditions.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How to protect yourself and others.Ayoubkhani D, Bermingham C, Pouwels KB, et al.Trajectory of long COVID symptoms after COVID-19 vaccination: community based cohort study.BMJ. 2022;377. doi:10.1136/bmj-2021-069676
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Collins RA, Ray N, Ratheal K, Colon A.Severe post-COVID-19 costochondritis in children.Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent). 2021;35(1):56-57. doi:10.1080/08998280.2021.1973274Reardon S.Long COVID risk falls only slightly after vaccination, huge study shows.Nature. 2022:d41586-022-01453-0. doi:10.1038/d41586-022-01453-0Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Long COVID or post-COVID conditions.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How to protect yourself and others.Ayoubkhani D, Bermingham C, Pouwels KB, et al.Trajectory of long COVID symptoms after COVID-19 vaccination: community based cohort study.BMJ. 2022;377. doi:10.1136/bmj-2021-069676
Collins RA, Ray N, Ratheal K, Colon A.Severe post-COVID-19 costochondritis in children.Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent). 2021;35(1):56-57. doi:10.1080/08998280.2021.1973274
Reardon S.Long COVID risk falls only slightly after vaccination, huge study shows.Nature. 2022:d41586-022-01453-0. doi:10.1038/d41586-022-01453-0
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Long COVID or post-COVID conditions.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How to protect yourself and others.
Ayoubkhani D, Bermingham C, Pouwels KB, et al.Trajectory of long COVID symptoms after COVID-19 vaccination: community based cohort study.BMJ. 2022;377. doi:10.1136/bmj-2021-069676
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