Precordial catch syndrome
Also called: Texidor's twinge
A sudden, sharp, stabbing pain near the heart that lasts seconds to a few minutes and gets worse when you breathe in. It is the most common cause of chest pain in children and teenagers, and it is harmless.
How common
Does this happen to you?
These are answers from visitors, not a study.
How it works
The pain is sharp and very local. You can usually point to it with one finger, just left of the breastbone1. It arrives at rest, often while slouching or sitting still. It lasts from a few seconds to about three minutes. Breathing in makes it worse, so most people take shallow breaths until it passes1.
The cause is not fully known. The leading idea is a pinched or irritated nerve in the chest wall, or a brief irritation of the pleura, the lining around the lungs1. The heart is not involved. Heart tests in people with this pain come back normal.
The syndrome was described in 1955 by Miller and Texidor. It is most common between the ages of 6 and 20 and usually stops on its own by the mid-twenties1. Once injury is ruled out, it explains 80% to 90% of chest pain complaints in children1.
Is it a problem?
No. It is not a heart attack, and it does not damage anything. It goes away on its own, usually within a minute or two. Some people find that one deep breath ends it faster, at the cost of one sharp jab.
See a doctor if chest pain comes with shortness of breath, spreads to the arm or jaw, comes with sweating or nausea, or happens during exercise. Those are not the pattern of this syndrome.
Sources and further material
- Encyclopedia Precordial catch syndrome