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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.
Limping in children is often caused by an obvious injury to the leg or foot, such as:
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 |
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:
