Limp
If your child is limping after an injury please see our leg injury page.
If they haven’t had an obvious injury, they may need to be seen by a healthcare professional to look for other possible causes.
Please give your child paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain if they are limping.
When should you worry?
If your child has any of the following:
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Breathing very fast, too breathless to talk, eat or drink
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Working hard to breathe, drawing in of the muscles below the ribs, or noisy breathing (grunting)
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Breathing that stops or pauses
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Is pale, blue, mottled or feels unusually cold to touch
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Difficult to wake up, very sleepy or confused
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Weak, high-pitched cry or can’t be settled
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Has a fit (seizure)
Has a rash that does not go away with pressure (the ‘Glass Test’)
You need urgent help
Go to the nearest Hospital Emergency (A&E) Department or phone 999
If your child has any of the following:
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Is unable to put any weight on their leg
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Is no better after 48 hours
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Develops a fever above 38oC.
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Swollen, red or hot joint
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Breathing a bit faster than normal or working a bit harder to breathe
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Dry skin, lips or tongue
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Not had a wee or wet nappy in last 8 hours
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Poor feeding in babies (less than half of their usual amount)
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Irritable (Unable to settle them with toys, TV, food or hugs even after their fever has come down)
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Getting worse and I am still worried
You need to contact a doctor or nurse today
Please ring your GP surgery or call NHS 111 - dial 111
If symptoms persist for 4 hours or more and you have not been able to speak to either a member of staff from your GP practice or to NHS 111 staff, recheck that your child has not developed any red features
If none of the above features are present
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Watch them closely for any change and look out for any red or amber symptoms
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Additional advice is also available to young families for coping with crying of well babies – click here.
If your child has a long term condition or disability and you are worried please contact your regular team or follow any plans that they have given you.
Self care
Continue providing your child’s care at home. If you are still concerned about your child, call NHS 111 – dial 111
This content has been developed by healthcare professionals from across the UK in collaboration with the RCPCH.
What should you do?
Give your child regular ibuprofen for a few days. You can also give paracetamol to help with the pain.
Your child should rest as much as possible until the symptoms have resolved. You can then allow your child to gradually return to their usual activities.
What causes limping without injury
Irritable hip is the most common cause of hip pain and limping in a child. It often occurs after a recent viral illness such as a cold, sore throat, or diarrhoea and vomiting. It is caused by inflammation of the lining of the joint and fluid inside the joint. Its peak age of onset is 5 to 6 years.
However, irritable hip shares the symptoms of more serious hip conditions, such as septic arthritis (an infection inside the hip). If your child has a fever or they are not improving after 48 hours they should be seen urgently by a healthcare professional.
How long will it take for your child to get better?
Your child should start getting better within a couple of days.
If they are no better within 48 hours, or not back to normal within 7 days, you should arrange for them to be assessed by your GP surgery.
More information on limping is available at nhs.uk
Where should you seek help?
If it is non-urgent, speak to your local community pharmacist or health visitor.
If your child has any of the above features in amber, urgently see your GP. For an urgent out-of-hours GP appointment, call NHS 111.
You should only call 999 or go your nearest A&E department in critical or life threatening situations or if your child is showing any of the signs in the red section above.
Health visitors are nurses or midwives who are passionate about promoting healthy lifestyles and preventing illness through the delivery of the Healthy Child Programme. They work with you through your pregnancy up until your child is ready to start school.
Health Visitors can also make referrals for you to other health professionals for example hearing or vision concerns or to the Community Paediatricians or to the child and adolescent mental health services.
Contact them by phoning your Health Visitor Team or local Children’s Centre.
Sound advice
Health visitors also provide advice, support and guidance in caring for your child, including:
- Breastfeeding, weaning and healthy eating
- Exercise, hygiene and safety
- Your child’s growth and development
- Emotional health and wellbeing, including postnatal depression
- Safety in the home
- Stopping smoking
- Contraception and sexual health
- Sleep and behaviour management (including temper tantrums!)
- Toilet training
- Minor illnesses
For more information watch the video: What does a health visitor do?
School nurses care for children and young people, aged 5-19, and their families, to ensure their health needs are supported within their school and community. They work closely with education staff and other agencies to support parents, carers and the children and young people, with physical and/or emotional health needs.
Primary and secondary schools have an allocated school nurse – telephone your child’s school to ask for the contact details of your named school nurse.
There is also a specialist nurse who works with families who choose to educate their children at home.
Sound Advice
Before your child starts school your health visitor will meet with the school nursing team to transfer their care to the school nursing service. The school nursing team consists of a school nursing lead, specialist public health practitioners and school health staff nurses.
They all have a role in preventing disease and promoting health and wellbeing, by:-
- encouraging healthier lifestyles
- offering immunisations
- giving information, advice and support to children, young people and their families
- supporting children with complex health needs
Each member of the team has links with many other professionals who also work with children including community paediatricians, child and adolescent mental health teams, health visitors and speech and language therapists. The school health nursing service also forms part of the multi-agency services for children, young people and families where there are child protection or safeguarding issues.
If you’re not sure which NHS service you need, call 111. An adviser will ask you questions to assess your symptoms and then give you the advice you need, or direct you straightaway to the best service for you in your area.
Sound advice
Use NHS 111 if you are unsure what to do next, have any questions about a condition or treatment or require information about local health services.
For information on common childhood illnesses go to What is wrong with my child?
A&E departments provide vital care for life-threatening emergencies, such as loss of consciousness, suspected heart attacks, breathing difficulties, or severe bleeding that cannot be stopped. If you’re not sure it’s an emergency, call 111 for advice.