Severe post-COVID-19 costochondritis in children

Reagan A Collins; Nandini Ray; Kelly Ratheal; Athos Colon

doi:10.1080/08998280.2021.1973274

Severe post-COVID-19 costochondritis in children

Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent). 2021 Sep 27;35(1):56-57. doi: 10.1080/08998280.2021.1973274. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Reagan A Collins¹, Nandini Ray¹, Kelly Ratheal², Athos Colon³

Affiliations

¹ School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas.
² Division of Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas.
³ Department of Pediatrics, University Medical Center Health System, Lubbock, Texas.

Abstract

Although children comprise the fewest cases of COVID-19 infection, symptoms, and complications among the various age groups affected, new long-term consequences are being reported. Here, we report a case of severe costochondritis unresponsive to traditional management in a child who had COVID-19 infection a few months earlier. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of post-COVID-19 costochondritis (PCC) that has been successfully managed with colchicine. We recommend the consideration of colchicine as therapy for PCC in children presenting with severe musculoskeletal chest pain unresponsive to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or steroids. Physicians should maintain a high clinical suspicion for PCC to prevent unnecessary steroid treatment, frequent emergency department visits, and potential for drug abuse in these patients with severe chest pain.

Keywords: COVID-19; Colchicine; SARS-CoV-2; costochondritis; nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Publication types

Case Reports