Hi and thank you for contacting us

We sincerely understand your concern with your current discomfort. Generally chest pain can be caused by:

1. Asthma – asthma is a reversible constriction of the airways that has its own triggers such as certain food (peanuts, seafood, etc.) or exercise. It is commonly diagnosed in children over 5 years but may be diagnosed even in adulthood. Pertaining to your question, yes, asthma does tend to run in the family, but it does not necessarily manifest as breathing problems, but manifests as allergic rhinitis and eczema. Asthma commonly described as chest tightness and hunger for air.

2. Heart failure – the most common cause of heart failure in children is congenital heart disease. Congenital heart diseases may not manifest and remain asymptomatic for years because there are 2 types of congenital heart disease. The cyanotic heart disease manifests immediately, because the child does not receive enough oxygen even at rest, while the second type, the acyanotic heart disease manifest later or during exertion as the body does not receive enough oxygen when the demand increases. It is commonly described as suffocation.

3. Anemia – this is a condition where the body produces less or non-functional red blood cells. As red blood cells are the carrier of oxygen, the reduction of it will be compensated by shortness of breath. This may not be apparent at rest and may be exacerbated by physical activity. The child may be noticeably pale.

4. Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) - this condition is when the stomach fluid flows back into the esophagus due to a weakened lower esophageal sphincter that separate the canal tube and the stomach.

As there are many causes, without a full history and examination, it is advised to see a doctor to confirm the diagnosis and seek appropriate treatment. In order for us to provide you with an accurate choice of treatment and management, we need additional details to explore further into your current complaints. Therefore, we greatly suggest that you refer this to your nearest medical doctor. You may also click on this link (DoctorOnCall) to speak with our doctors online. We assure you that our conversations are kept in confidentiality unless additional consultation needed with other medical parties. Thank you.

p/s: Shoulder and neck pain, can caused by a radiated pain from the chest, however having a diarrhea could be a symptoms of gastrointestinal infection or food poisoning. It is best that you have that checked as well.

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