Though we often think of back pain as an adult problem, children and teenagers are not exempt from it. The difference is that a young person's pain typically has a very different cause than doctors see in adult patients. Children and teenagers complaining of back pain should always receive medical care to determine the underlying source.

Back pain falls into two general categories:

Acute Pain

Acute back or neck pain typically lasts less than three months. Acute pain may come on suddenly and often follows an injury or illness. Sudden back pain can also be a symptom of a serious condition, such as an infection or appendicitis. If the pain is severe, seek immediate care by calling 9-1-1.

If a child or teenager experiences acute or recurrent back pain, it's important to schedule an appointment with your pediatrician or other primary care doctor to find the cause of any acute pain and extent of any damage.

Acute Pain » Health Information

Other sections of this Web site contain information about possible causes for acute back pain in children, including sports injuries, tumors, fractures and infections. In addition, our Healthwise health information section contains information on acute back pain and its possible causes. To find out about spine and neck conditions that can cause acute pain, see back problems and injuries, cervical disc herniation, herniated disc, low back pain, neck problems and injuries, neck pain and sciatica.

Chronic Pain

Children are seldom prone to the degenerative conditions that cause most chronic back pain in adults. When a child or teenager complains of ongoing back pain, it may be an important signal of an underlying condition that must be located and treated to prevent growth problems or other long-term damage.

Sutter's integrated approach to diagnosis and treatment makes it easy for families to get the care a child needs in a local setting. Sutter Children's Services offers the services of pediatric specialists and subspecialists and works in cooperation with other specialty services including Sutter Neuroscience Institute and Sutter Cancer Center to ensure each child and family receives the level of medical care and support to promote recovery.

Chronic Pain » Health Information

Other sections of this Web site cover many of the possible causes for chronic back pain in children: scoliosis, kyphosis, kyphoscoliosis, tumors, fractures and infections. You can find additional information in our Healthwise section under the following topics: back problems and injuries low back pain neck problems and injuries and neck pain. Some causes of chronic back pain are also discussed separately in the following sections: fibromyalgia, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), obesity, sciatica and scoliosis. More information can be found under scoliosis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and obesity in children in MedlinePlus®, a joint effort of the National Institutes of Health and the National Library of Medicine.