Symptom Checker

  • When to seek medical advice

    • Consult your child's doctor if your child has joint pain or muscle pain that is persistent or is accompanied by:

    • Limping or impaired activity
    • Persistent decreased energy or fatigue
    • Swollen lymph nodes in the neck, groin or underarms
    • Swelling or stiffness
    • Persistent fever or fever with no clear cause
    • Rash
    • Abdominal pain
    • Unexplained weight loss

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  • Choose a
    symptom
  • Select related
    factors
  • View possible
    causes

Joint pain or muscle pain

Find possible causes of joint pain or muscle pain based on specific factors. Check one or more factors on this page that apply to your symptom.

  • Bone pain

  • Joint pain

  • Muscles aches, cramps or pain

  • Is limited to a specific area

  • Is throughout the whole body

  • Migrates from one site to another

  • Gradual

  • Intermittent or episodic

  • Sudden

  • Recent sore throat

  • Tick bite or possible exposure to ticks

  • At night

  • In late afternoon or early evening

  • In the morning or after a nap

  • Activity or overuse

  • Injury

  • Abdominal pain

  • Bloody stools

  • Chest pain

  • Concentration or memory problems

  • Easy bruising or bleeding

  • Emotional outbursts or unusual behaviors

  • Eye discomfort

  • Fever

  • Fever with no apparent cause

  • Headache

  • Jerky, uncontrollable body movements

  • Joint stiffness

  • Loss of appetite

  • Nausea or vomiting

  • Persistent decreased energy or fatigue

  • Rash

  • Shortness of breath

  • Skin redness or warmth near affected area

  • Small lumps under the skin

  • Swelling or tenderness near affected area

  • Swollen lymph nodes in neck, groin or underarms

  • Tiny red spots on skin

  • Weight loss

 

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References
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  24. Pelvic pain. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec18/ch242/ch242d.html. Accessed Nov. 29, 2011.
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  34. Karnani NG, et al. Evaluation of chronic dyspnea. American Family Physician. 2005;71:1529.
  35. Shoulder pain. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00065. Accessed Nov. 29, 2011.
  36. Information from your family doctor. Shoulder pain. American Family Physician. 2003;67:1319.
  37. Get smart: Sore throat. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/getsmart/antibiotic-use/URI/sore-throat.html. Accessed Nov. 29, 2011.
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DS00671 Jan. 19, 2012

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