If a child complains of chest pain, it might sound alarming to parents, but did you know that most cases of chest pain in kids don’t indicate a heart issue?

Published: September 5, 2023 | Updated: May 14, 2025

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

If a child complains of chest pain, it might sound alarming to parents, but did you know that most cases of chest pain in kids don’t indicate a heart issue?

“Chest pain is relatively common when a child is growing. It’s a good idea to bring this up with your child’s pediatrician, but parents should know that most instances of chest pain do not require a visit with a cardiology specialist,” said Brian J. Holland, M.D., pediatric cardiologist with Norton Children’s Heart Institute.

Here are some common causes of chest pain in kids, plus warning signs of a potential heart condition.

Common causes of chest pain in children

Most causes of chest pain in kids are musculoskeletal-related, meaning the pain involves the muscles and bones in the chest area, and not the heart.

Common causes of chest pain include:

• Cramps in the chest wall muscles (precordial catch syndrome)
• Intense or repeated coughing (respiratory illness)
• Inflammation of chest bone cartilage (costochondritis)
• Lung infections (such as pneumonia or COVID-19)
• Asthma
• Acid reflux or heartburn
• Anxiety

Chest pain warning signs

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the following symptoms are warning signs of a heart issue that should be of concern to parents:

• ​​Chest pain during physical exercise or activity​
• Chest pain or pressure that does not go away
• Chest pain and a decrease in normal physical endurance over days or weeks
• Chest pain followed by passing out or nearly passing out
• Chest pain in children with congenital heart disease
• Chest pain in children with a history of Kawasaki disease
• Chest pain in children who are genetically predisposed to high cholesterol
• Chest pain in children with a family member who died of unexplained reasons
• Chest pain in children with a family history of cardiomyopathy

If your child exhibits any of these listed symptoms, you should contact your pediatrician immediately for a referral to a cardiologist, contact Norton Children’s Heart Institute to make an appointment with a cardiology specialist or seek emergency treatment.