Choose your language

Tip from the doc

Help, my child is cracking!

Today a topic from the category: "Annoying, but it's not bad." And no, we're not talking about the doctor. But the cracking of joints.

We often encounter concerned questions about cracking joints in everyday practice. Especially when the child makes this cracking noise on purpose. It is indeed an exciting topic - because it has not yet been finally clarified how this noise comes about. What is currently suspected is called the vacuum theory. It is assumed that a vacuum forms in the joint space, causing carbon dioxide gases to be released from the joint lubricant. And when these gas bubbles burst, this noise is caused. The fact is that it is neither harmful nor an indication of any disease.

So if your child's joints crack, for example when changing nappies or lifting a baby, this is no reason to get nervous and no reason to go to the doctor. And if your older child sits there from time to time and actively cracks their joints, then this is a bit like picking their nose and biting their fingernails, i.e. a bad habit. But this is no reason to be afraid and worry about your child's health.

So our advice is to put up with it stoically, or make your child aware that there are people who can't hear this noise when someone around them makes it.

to the tip overview

Further interesting tips

Stool examinations

One issue of increasing importance is unnecessary and often expensive faecal examinations. Very few very useful tests can be carried out with a stool sample. But it can also be used to do a whole lot of - to stay on topic - crap.

Comfort

Anger, sadness, pain, despair - there are many moments when children need comforting. And because the whole thing is not as trivial as you might think at first, here are the most important tips on giving comfort.

Hives

The technical term is urticaria, the common word is nettle rash. This is appropriate because the children look as if they have fallen into a bed of nettles.