The common cold of the hip, known as transient synovitis or toxic synovitis, is a condition caused by inflammation of the tissues surrounding the hip joint. A look at this misunderstood evil.
Transient synovitis, toxic synovitis, hip cold: these three expressions refer to inflammation in the hip. And this inflammation is the most common cause of lameness in children. “We think it often follows a respiratory infection, for example a cold,” says Dr. Sarah Campillo, pediatric rheumatologist at the Montreal Children's Hospital.
The hip cold, like a good old cold, is therefore caused by a virus. This condition usually affects children aged 10 and under.
What are the symptoms?
Hip cold causes inflammation in the hip area. “Usually only one hip is affected, either the right or the left,” says Dr. Campillo. It is this inflammation, accompanied by pain in the groin, thigh or knee, that will lead to lameness in the child.
When should you consult?
If your child begins toto limp and to have pain, it is necessary to consult. Make an appointment with your family doctor. If this one does not offer you a consultation quickly, go to a walk-in clinic instead. If the child has fever, go to the emergency because it could be a septic arthritis of the hip, a bacterial infection that needs to be treated quickly.
Many causes of lameness in children can appear suddenly. If your child starts limping and complains of pain, it may indeed be a hip cold. But it could also be something else, which is why it's important to get a consultation quickly.
What are the treatments?
If the doctor confirms that your child does indeed have transient synovitis of the hip, we will put him to rest. “No sport, no physical activity,” says Dr. Campillo. A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, such as ibuprofen, may also be recommended until the situation resolves. This will usually happen within 5-14 days of the onset of inflammation. Yes, yes, like a real cold!
It is recommended to return to see the doctor within three months of the hip cold episode to ensure that everything is well and truly back to normal. “Rarely, what was thought to be transient hip synovitis could be the initial manifestation of another hip problem,” points out Dr. Campillo.
So if the he alth of yourchild does not seem to improve after a diagnosis of a hip cold, it may be affected by something else instead, such as Legg-Perthes-Calvé disease, another cause of lameness in children.
