Costochondritis was found in 5-Minute Clinical Consult which helps you diagnose, treat, and follow up on over 900 medical conditions seen in everyday practice.
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Basics
Description
- Anterior chest wall pain associated with pain and tenderness of the costochondral and costosternal regions
- System(s) affected: Musculoskeletal
- Synonym(s): Costosternal syndrome; Parasternal chondrodynia; Anterior chest wall syndrome; Chondrocostal junction syndrome
Pediatric Considerations
Pay special attention to psychogenic chest pain in children who perceive family discord.
Epidemiology
- Predominant age: 20–40 years
- Predominant gender: Female
Incidence
~30% of patients presenting to emergency room with chest pain; 15–20% of teenagers with chest pain may have costochondritis (1,2).
Risk Factors
- Unusual physical activity or overuse
- Recent trauma (including motor vehicle accident, domestic violence) or new activity
- Recent upper respiratory infection (URI)
Etiology
- Not fully understood
- Trauma
- Overuse
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