# Growing Pains (Benign Nocturnal Limb Pain of Childhood) - Category: chronic - Review status: reviewed (every claim checked against a document named on this page) - Sources: NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries: Growing pains in children 2022 · MSF Essential Drugs 2024 - paracetamol (oral) · No labelled dose - a procedure, not a medicine - Verified date: 2026-08 ## Verified against - No labelled dose - a procedure, not a medicine - MSF Essential Drugs 2024 - paracetamol (oral) ## Treatment metadata - Reassurance, leg massage, and local heat - Paracetamol — 120 mg — oral.liquid ## Complete treatment card ```text GROWING PAINS (BENIGN NOCTURNAL LIMB PAIN OF CHILDHOOD) Sources: NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries: Growing pains in children 2022 · MSF Essential Drugs 2024 - paracetamol (oral) · No labelled dose - a procedure, not a medicine Review status: REVIEWED against 2 sources listed above (2026-08) 1. REASSURANCE, LEG MASSAGE, AND LOCAL HEAT [1st line] Adult Not applicable (childhood condition) - Not applicable Peds Provide reassurance to parents; massage legs gently, apply local warm compress or bath, and perform hamstring/quadriceps stretches before bedtime Source No labelled dose - a procedure, not a medicine Why Growing pains are benign and self-limiting; reassurance, gentle calf/thigh massage, stretching exercises, and warm baths provide effective relief without regular medication Caution MUST rule out red flags: unilateral pain, daytime pain, limping, joint swelling/erythema, localized bone tenderness, fever, or weight loss. Physical exam must be completely normal; symptoms should resolve by morning leaving child fully active during the day. 2. PARACETAMOL [add-on - not a substitute] Adult Not applicable (childhood condition) - Not applicable Peds 10-15 mg/kg/dose [child max 500 mg] (Child 1 month and over: 15 mg/kg per dose, 3 or 4 times daily (max 60 mg/kg daily).) 3kg -> 30-45 mg/dose 4kg -> 40-60 mg/dose 5kg -> 50-75 mg/dose 6kg -> 60-90 mg/dose 7kg -> 70-105 mg/dose 8kg -> 80-120 mg/dose 9kg -> 90-135 mg/dose 10kg -> 100-150 mg/dose 11kg -> 110-165 mg/dose 12kg -> 120-180 mg/dose 13kg -> 130-195 mg/dose 14kg -> 140-210 mg/dose 15kg -> 150-225 mg/dose 16kg -> 160-240 mg/dose 17kg -> 170-255 mg/dose 18kg -> 180-270 mg/dose 19kg -> 190-285 mg/dose 20kg -> 200-300 mg/dose 21kg -> 210-315 mg/dose 22kg -> 220-330 mg/dose 23kg -> 230-345 mg/dose 24kg -> 240-360 mg/dose 25kg -> 250-375 mg/dose 26kg -> 260-390 mg/dose 27kg -> 270-405 mg/dose 28kg -> 280-420 mg/dose 29kg -> 290-435 mg/dose 30kg -> 300-450 mg/dose 31kg -> 310-465 mg/dose 32kg -> 320-480 mg/dose 33kg -> 330-495 mg/dose 34kg -> 340-500 mg/dose (upper capped) 35kg -> 350-500 mg/dose (upper capped) 36kg -> 360-500 mg/dose (upper capped) 37kg -> 370-500 mg/dose (upper capped) 38kg -> 380-500 mg/dose (upper capped) 39kg -> 390-500 mg/dose (upper capped) 40kg -> 400-500 mg/dose (upper capped) 41kg -> 410-500 mg/dose (upper capped) 42kg -> 420-500 mg/dose (upper capped) 43kg -> 430-500 mg/dose (upper capped) 44kg -> 440-500 mg/dose (upper capped) 45kg -> 450-500 mg/dose (upper capped) 46kg -> 460-500 mg/dose (upper capped) 47kg -> 470-500 mg/dose (upper capped) 48kg -> 480-500 mg/dose (upper capped) 49kg -> 490-500 mg/dose (upper capped) 50kg -> 500 mg/dose (capped) Source MSF Essential Drugs 2024 - paracetamol (oral) Why Simple analgesic added to reassurance and non-drug comfort measures for nights when limb pain is significant; it does not alter the benign, self-limiting course of growing pains and is not meant for nightly use. Caution Do not administer continuously every night; use only on nights with significant pain. Ensure correct pediatric liquid strength (120 mg/5 mL or 250 mg/5 mL) to prevent dosing errors. Re-evaluate child if pain frequency increases or changes character. 500 mg is the per-dose ceiling used here for a child. 1000 mg is the adult dose and does not belong in a weight calculation - the daily 60 mg/kg limit is the one that binds first in any case. Egypt CETAMOL 120MG/5ML PEDIATRIC SYRUP 120 ML MEMPHIS 8.50 EGP PARAGESIC BABY 120MG/5ML 120ML SUSP. AMRIYA 36.00 EGP PARAMOL 120MG/5ML SYRUP 125ML MISR 36.00 EGP FEBRIMOL ORAL DROPS 20 ML PHARCO 4.00 EGP -> ? strength differs, ? different route - not oral liquid THERA-LO 3.2G/100ML ORAL SUSP. 100 ML PHAROPHARMA 5.00 EGP -> ? strength differs, ? different route - not oral liquid Prices are indicative (dataset snapshot 2026-06); verify with the pharmacy. ``` --- Dawaa Reference is a reference for prescribers, not a medical device, and does not replace clinical judgement. [Privacy policy](/privacy)