costochontritis medical condition?

Answer 1

Costochondritis/Tietze's disease/Tietze's Sydrome.


DEFINITION:

Costochondritis is an inflammation and associated tenderness of the cartilage (i.e., the costochondral joints) that attaches the front of the ribs to the breastbone (STERNUM).

CLINICAL FEATURE / SYMPTOMS:

Costochondritis causes pain in the lower rib area or upper breastbone. Some patients fear they are having a heart attack. The most severe pain is usually between the breast and the upper abdomen. The pain may be greater when in sitting or reclining positions. Stress may aggravate this condition. Generally the third or fourth ribs are affected. However, any of the seven costochondral junctions may be affected, and more often than not more than one site is involved. The inflammation can involve cartilage areas on both sides of the sternum, but usually is on one side only. Costochondritis should be distinguished from Tietze Syndrome, which is an inflammation involving the same area of the chest, but also includes swelling.
ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT THIS DISEASE IS EASILY CONFUSED BY MOST PATIENTS PAIN TO BE OF CARDIAC ORIGIN.
Cured by NSAIDs like bruffen, Diclofenac etc.

Answer 2

This is actually costochondritis, which is an inflammation in the cartilage in the rib cage area of your chest, and can cause chest pain in that area, and tenderness. It is a fairly benign condition, frequently post cold or viral or bronchitis type condition, just lingers for a while after. There really isn't much the docs do for it, it just goes away after awhile.

Answer 3

Benign condition caused by inflammation of the cartiledge aroudn the ribs. Caused either by infection or trauma (including coughing). Treated generally with ibuprofen or naprosin, and time.

Answer 4

Costochondritis is an inflammation of the cartilage that connects a rib to the breastbone (sternum). It causes sharp pain in the costosternal joint — where your ribs and breastbone are joined by rubbery cartilage. Pain caused by costochondritis may mimic that of a heart attack or other heart conditions.

Costochondritis is the most common cause of chest pain originating in the chest wall. It occurs most often in women and people over age 40. However, costochondritis can affect anyone, including infants and children.

A doctor might refer to costochondritis by other names, including chest wall pain, costosternal syndrome and costosternal chondrodynia. When the pain of costochondritis is accompanied by swelling it's referred to as Tietze's syndrome.

Most cases of costochondritis have no apparent cause, and most go away on their own. This makes it difficult to treat. When there's no obvious cause, treatment is aimed at easing your pain while you wait for costochondritis to resolve on its own

Costochondritis (with unknown cause) is a common cause of chest pain in children and adolescents. It accounts for 10-30% of all chest pain in children. Annually, doctors evaluate about 650,000 cases of chest pain in young people aged 10-21 years. The peak age for the condition is 12-14 years.

Costochondritis is also considered as a possible diagnosis for adults who have chest pain. Chest pain in adults is considered a potentially serious sign of a heart problem by most doctors until proven otherwise. Chest pain in adults usually leads to a battery of tests to rule out heart disease. If those tests are normal, and your physical exam is consistent with costochondritis, your doctor will diagnose costochondritis as the cause of your chest pain. It is important, however, for adults with chest pain to be examined and tested before being diagnosed with costochondritis. Often it is difficult to distinguish the two, without further testing. The condition affects females more than males (70% versus 30%). Costochondritis may also occur as the result of an infection or as a complication of surgery on your sternum.

Click these links for more information if you wish:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/costochondritis/DS00626
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/Costochondritis
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costochondritis