Transient synovitis is inflammation (swelling) in the lining of the hip joint. It can cause pain in the hip joint.
No one knows exactly what causes irritable hip. It can happen in tamariki who have recently had a viral infection, but there is no infection in the hip joint itself.
Tamariki who get irritable hip are usually between 3 to 8 years old.
Usually only one hip is affected.
Your child may:
You can usually look after your child with irritable hip at home. You won't usually need to see a doctor.
Take your child to the doctor if your child:
Take your child to the doctor if you:
Tamariki with irritable hip usually do not need tests. But if you need to see a doctor, they may suggest your child has some of the following to rule out infections or injuries:
See the KidsHealth section on x-rays and scans to learn more about scans [1]
Irritable hip is not a serious condition. You can usually look after your child at home. Things usually start to improve after a few days. Most tamariki are back to normal before 2 weeks.
You don't need antibiotics because irritable hip is not caused by a bacterial infection.
There are some things you can do at home to help.
Paracetamol
If your child has pain, you can give paracetamol to make them more comfortable. You must follow the dosage instructions on the bottle. It is dangerous to give more than the recommended dose.
Other medicine
If your doctor gives your child ibuprofen (such as Nurofen or Fenpaed), or if you buy it at the pharmacy, follow the dosage instructions carefully. It is dangerous to give more than the recommended dose.
Never give aspirin
Never give your child aspirin as this may increase the risk of Reye syndrome, which is a rare and serious illness.
Encourage your child to rest and to limit their activity. Most tamariki will do this themselves while they are sore.
Encourage your child to drink plenty of fluid.
No. Tamariki who have had irritable hip do not develop long-term problems in their hips.
Kids Health Information | The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne: Transient synovitis (irritable hip) [2]
Healthinfo Waitaha Canterbury | Limping in children [3]
Illustration by Dr Greta File. Property of KidsHealth.
This page last reviewed 01 September 2023.
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Links
[1] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/tags/x-rays-scans
[2] https://www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/fact_sheets/Transient_synovitis/
[3] https://www.healthinfo.org.nz/index.htm?bone-pain-in-children_1.htm
[4] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/contact?from=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kidshealth.org.nz%2Fprint%2F2829%3Flanguage%3Dton