My Toddler Won’t Put Weight on His Leg or Foot!

Having to deal with a toddler experiencing health issues can be a terrifying experience. Toddlers are normally full of energy and constantly getting into things. When your toddler suddenly starts to have trouble standing on one of their feet, it is a serious matter. A limping toddler is never a normal occurrence. If you notice your toddler is limping, you should make an appointment with your child’s pediatrician immediately. A limping toddler with a fever and severe pains should be taken to the hospital immediately. Limping in toddlers could be caused by a few medical reasons. Here are a few medical reasons that could be causing your toddler’s limping.

Injury

Toddlers are not always able to communicate when they are having a problem. A limp can be caused by small things such as a cut on a toddler’s foot or piece of mulch in your toddler’s shoe. For more serious issues like a sprain, fracture, or a broken bone, an expert will have to be consulted. Severe pain, limping, and swelling are all possible signs of a sprain, fracture, or a broken bone. Your pediatrician or the ER staff will be able to do testing on your toddler to figure out what is wrong. A toddler in severe pain and experiencing excessive swelling will need to be taken to the hospital immediately.

Infection

One of the most common reasons for limping in toddlers is caused by toxic synovitis. There is currently no known cause of Toxic synovitis, but some doctors believe it is caused by a substance produced by the immune system when it is activated to fight infection. Your child’s pediatrician will have to perform tests and a scan to determine if your toddler has toxic synovitis. An anti-inflammatory drug, like ibuprofen, is used to treat toxic synovitis.

Your toddler will require plenty of rest while recovering. Symptoms of Toxic Synovitis should start to clear in 4-5 weeks. Other infections, such as septic arthritis or osteomyelitis, can also cause limping in toddlers. Your Child’s pediatrician will be able to tell you what type of infection your toddler has.

Inflammatory disease

A limping toddler can also be the result of an inflammatory disease like arthritis or lupus. Inflammation is your immune system’s normal response to harmful substances in the body. Your immune system can sometimes start to attack healthy cells. When your body starts to attack healthy cells, it results in pain and damage to healthy tissue. Toddlers can also suffer from inflammatory diseases. Your pediatrician will have to diagnose if your child’s limping is caused by an inflammatory disease.

Limb abnormalities

Limb abnormalities can cause limping in toddlers. Reasons for limb abnormalities can vary. Previous injuries can result in slower-growing limbs resulting in a limp. Disorders like rickets can also result in limb issues. Rickets is normally caused by a lack of vitamin D in a Childs diet.

In some cases, Ricket is caused by a genetic disorder. Hereditary rickets affects the kidneys. Toddlers who have hereditary rickets have a problem absorbing phosphate.

Your pediatrician will have to check your child for any limb abnormalities. Acquired limb abnormalities are sometimes hard to identify. Multiple images and tests may be needed to identify the cause of an acquired limb abnormality.

Tumors

Tumors can sometimes grow into bones and soft tissue. When a tumor grows into bones or soft, it can cause limping. A benign tumor could be the reason for your toddler limbing. A unicameral bone cyst is a common bone tumor found in children. The cyst normally occurs in the long bones of the body.

Unicameral bone cyst normally has no symptoms, but if the cyst gets large enough, it can cause a fracture. Osteochondroma is another type of bone tumor found in children.

Osteochondroma normally occurs in older children and teens, but in rare cases, it can found in toddlers or infants. An osteochondroma tumor grows near a growth plate. Osteochondroma tumors normally have no symptoms. In some cases, the tumor can become large enough to cause a noticeable bulge. The tumor can also cause pain and discomfort when it is located near a nerve. The nerve may become compressed, resulting in numbness or pain.

Hip disorder

Hip disorders such as Dislocation Dysplasia of the Hip can cause limbing in toddlers. Dislocation Dysplasia of the Hip results in a deformity in the hip that allows it to dislocate easily. Dislocation Dysplasia of the Hip normally develops in the womb. In some cases of Dislocation, Dysplasia of the Hip problems occur after the infant’s first year of life. Improper swaddling of an infant can result in Dislocation Dysplasia of the Hip. When swaddling an infant, parents should make sure they are properly informed of how to swaddle. Your child’s pediatrician will be able to diagnosis any hip problems your child may have.

Appendicitis

Appendicitis occurs when your appendix becomes inflames. The appendix normally becomes inflamed due to a blockage. Left untreated, appendicitis and lead to the appendix bursting, which will cause a life-threatening infection. Appendicitis occurs in children of all ages. Symptoms of younger children are sometimes different from older children. In older children, the symptoms can vary from belly pain to lose in appetite. In a very young child, appendicitis may cause hip pain resulting in a limp.

Acute Flaccid Myelitis

Acute Flaccid Myelitis affects the nervous system. The muscles and reflexes in the body can be affected by acute Flaccid Myelitis. The cause of Acute Flaccid Myelitis is currently unknown. Researches believe Acute Flaccid

A virus causes myelitis. The treatment for Acute Flaccid Myelitis involves treating the symptoms. Currently, there is no vaccine or cure for Acute Flaccid Myelitis. Basic steps can be taken to prevent your Childs risk of getting Acute Flaccid. Frequent washing of hand, frequent washing of surfaces like toys, and avoiding touch your face with unclean hands.

Diagnosing a limping toddler can be tough, even for your doctor. The following are common reasons why a toddler may be limping. Carefully noting when the limp first began and any other symptoms, your toddler may be experiencing will help your pedestrian diagnosis your toddler.