Neck pain is a feeling of discomfort in the neck region. Hearing your child complain about this could be extremely worrisome for parents. Although neck pain in children is sometimes used as an excuse for escaping school, it is such a serious symptom that if true, it must not be ignored at any cost. The most common complaints associated with a child complaining of neck pain are nausea, weakness, headache, swollen lymph nodes, fever, muscle pain, restricted movement of the neck, lack of concentration, or simply crankiness. So see if your 7 year old who is complaining of neck pain is also experiencing any of these other symptoms! Read the article below to get some useful insight.

8 Possible Causes of Neck Pain You Should Know

Neck Pain can arise due to many reasons and some of the most frequent ones are listed below:

Muscle strain

This is the most common cause of neck pain in young children and ultimately leads to a stiff neck. The levator scapulae muscle (connecting the neck's cervical spine and the shoulder) is very prone to injury when children carry heavy loads of books, or if they indulge in acrobatic like activities which they almost always do.

Misaligned posture

If you find your 7 year old complaining of neck pain, then it can be likely due to his posture. Kids tend to stay seated on their chairs for a very long period, and it must be admitted that they do have a habit of slouching. Also, when they are playing computer games, children tend to have bad posture that causes pain in the neck. Be mindful of bad sleeping posture. Using the wrong pillow can cause strain in the spine, leading to neck pain. A simple trick: if you find your child complaining of neck pain, check his pillow first.

Trauma

A wound or injury in the neck region or the spine region is another factor leading to neck pain in young children. For example, contact sports, whiplash, or a fall--these all can lead to injury in the neck.

Infected lymph node

Since there is a lymph node is located in the neck region, any form of swelling can make it push against the neck muscles, causing them to spasm. This can cause pain. Consequently, if a child complains of neck pain, it is important for the parent to check if there is any form of inflammation.

Meningitis

This is a deadly disease, common in young children, and arises due to inflammation of a thin tissue around the spinal cord and brain. It is almost always accompanied by fever, a stiff neck, headache, and confusion. So if your 7 year old complaining of neck pain is also experiencing a fever, then you must immediately rush to a doctor.

Rheumatoid arthritis

If this affects the neck region, it can be a continuous and serious contributor to neck pain. Although this disease is rare, the possibility cannot be ruled out altogether. Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include fever, inflammation of joints, joint pain, and neck pain. Children will mostly say that my legs hurt, or my fingers are hurting, my hands are sore, or other such complaints.

Congenital abnormalities

If your 7 year old complaining of neck pain has been regularly complaining of neck pain for some time now, then get it checked for congenital abnormalities which might now be becoming more pronounced as the child grows. The neck is formed by vertebrae which connect the skull to the upper torso, and some congenital defects can surface around this age.

Tumors and cancer

Neck pain in children can also be due to tumors and cancer. If you notice change in the voice or some swelling in the neck region of your child, do not hesitate to immediately consult your doctor.

Treatments for Neck Pain in Children

Neck pain can be treated at home or in the hospital, depending on the causes and intensity. Home remedies are suitable only for minor neck pain which has only started recently, and certainly not for intense or ongoing neck pain. Some of the remedies of neck pain include:

Hot & cold compresses

These can restore blood flow to the area and thus ease the pain. Hot compresses for the region are an effective measure to promote the healing process. Once heat has been applied, you can follow up with some simple medication and cold compresses to further reduce the pain. These actually reduce inflammation, giving temporary relief, and buying time for the medicine to kick in and allow healing to begin.

Correct postures

This is one of the prerequisites to cure children's neck pain. If your child's spine is in correct alignment, it can automatically remove the neck pain. Make sure your child is using the right pillow, sitting upright while studying or gaming, not curling up too much while sleeping, and sitting with a straight back most of the time.

Use bath salts

A combination of bath salt and hot shower can relieve muscle tension, relax the mind, and remove neck pain. Experiment with different bath salts available in the market and check which works the best for your child. These won't have any side-effects.

Exercise the muscle slowly You can teach your child to slowly move the neck back and forth, then in circular motions, and finally try to make a figure-eight motion to give it a complete exercise. They must always stop and reduce the motion if they feel any pain while exercising and stretching the neck. Neck pain due to muscle stiffness goes away in the blink of an eye with this measure.

Over-the-counter drugs can help

Over-the-counter drugs like acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be used, but only when you are absolutely certain that your child has over-exerted and now has neck pain. Never use aspirin for children! And never use over-the-counter medication if you have the slightest doubt as to the cause of their neck pain.

When to See a Doctor

If the neck pain has become chronic or unbearable for your child, immediately consult a doctor. If your child's neck pain is accompanied by fever or any outward swollen appearance in the neck area, take your child to the doctor. Another piece of advice: if the pain is prolonged and home remedies bring no satisfactory relief, you must visit a doctor to get expert advice. Although neck pain is a very vague and common symptom among children, many times it is a pre-indicator of many awful medical conditions which can be avoided if diagnosed and medicated in time.

Take Home Message

On the whole, we can say that neck pain in children has become very common due to wrong lifestyle habits, but sometimes it also arises out of genuine congenital, biological, or infectious diseases. As parents, you must be able to draw a line between home medication and visiting a doctor for ensuring proper health of your child. You must also educate your child with the importance of correct posture and exercise.