Irritable hip

Irritable hip is inflammation (swelling) of the membrane covering the hip joint. It is the most common cause of hip pain in young children.

A child with irritable hip will have pain and restricted movement in their hip joint. The pain can also spread to the thigh, groin and knee areas. This makes standing and walking difficult and causes the child to limp. Usually, only one hip is affected.

Irritable hip is also called acute transient synovitis.

Who is affected?

Irritable hip is a common childhood condition that affects boys and girls of any age. It is most often seen in boys aged between two and 12, and twice as many boys than girls are affected.

What is the cause?

The exact cause of irritable hip is unknown, but it often follows either a viral infection or a physical injury (see Causes).

Is it serious?

As a parent, it can be very worrying if your child is diagnosed with irritable hip and is struggling to walk. However, the condition is often short lived and has no further complications.

It usually goes away without treatment after one to two weeks. Complete rest during this period is usually all that is needed.

Joints

Joints are the connection points between two bones that allow movement.

Pain

Pain is an unpleasant physical or emotional feeling and your body's way of warning you that it has been damaged.