Limping in children is not usually serious and could be caused by something minor like a sprain or strain. But you should see a GP if it's not obvious what's causing it.
Causes of limping in children
Limping in children is often caused by an obvious injury to the leg or foot, such as:
- a sprain or strain
- a blister, cut or bruise
- a broken bone
Sometimes it may not be clear what's causing your child to limp. The symptoms might give you an idea of what the cause might be.
But do not self-diagnose – a limp with no obvious cause should always be checked by a GP as it could be a sign of something serious.
| Other symptoms | Possible cause |
|---|---|
| Sudden pain in the hip, knee or thigh, sometimes after a viral infection | Irritable hip |
| Pain in the groin, hip or knee, stiff hip, foot or leg turns inward | Slipped upper femoral epiphysis |
| Painful, swollen joints that lasts for longer than 6 weeks | Different types of juvenile arthritis |
| Pain in the groin, thigh or knee after exercise, stiff hip | Perthes' disease |
| A lump on your child's leg, weight loss, pain at night | A cancer, such as leukaemia, sarcoma or lymphoma |
Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:
- your child has a limp and you're not sure what's causing it
Immediate action required: Call 999 or go to A&E if:
- your child gets sudden pain in their hip, knee or thigh (hip problems can sometimes be felt in the thigh or knee)
- your child cannot put any weight on their leg
- the leg has changed shape or is pointing at an odd angle
- your child feels generally unwell and has a high temperature or feels hot and shivery
- your child also has severe pain in the lower part of their tummy
- your child's symptoms get worse
What we mean by severe pain
- Severe pain:
-
- always there and so bad it's hard to think or talk
- you cannot sleep
- it's very hard to move, get out of bed, go to the bathroom, wash or dress
- Moderate pain:
-
- always there
- makes it hard to concentrate or sleep
- you can manage to get up, wash or dress
- Mild pain:
-
- comes and goes
- is annoying but does not stop you doing daily activities
Do not drive to A&E. Ask someone to drive you or call 999 and ask for an ambulance.
Bring any medicines you take with you.
Treatment from a GP
Treatment will depend on what's causing your child to limp. Sometimes it may get better on its own.
A GP will examine your child and may arrange for more tests to find out what's causing your child to limp.
They might:
- give you advice on how to treat a sprain or strain at home, such as rest and taking paracetamol or ibuprofen
- refer you to hospital for an X-ray or to a specialist (for example, a paediatric orthopaedic surgeon) to help find the cause
Page last reviewed: 06 January 2022
Next review due: 06 January 2025