What causes pectus excavatum in children?

Pectus excavatum may be caused by genetic factors or abnormal cartilage growth during childhood development and needs to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine whether intervention is necessary.

Pectus excavatum is a congenital abnormality of the thorax, characterized by the inward depression of the sternum and costal cartilage, which looks like the chest is "pressed in". The risk of developing this condition may increase due to genetic factors. Pectus excavatum may also occur if the child has a family history of the disease or if the fetal development is disturbed by certain factors during pregnancy. Excessive growth of the thoracic cartilage is one of the key reasons. This unbalanced growth causes the sternum to move inward.

Depending on the severity of pectus excavatum, different symptoms will be manifested. Mild pectus excavatum may only affect the appearance and will not cause obvious discomfort. More severe pectus excavatum may affect cardiopulmonary function, and the child may feel tired, have difficulty breathing, and even have some impact on athletic ability. Sometimes, some parents will find that their children tend to turn pale or have a faster heartbeat after strenuous exercise. These signs may be related to chest deformity compressing internal organs.

If your child shows signs of pectus excavatum, it is recommended that you take your child to an orthopedic or thoracic surgery department for evaluation as soon as possible. Mild cases may not require special treatment and can be improved by observing the child's development and coordinating core strength training, deep breathing, etc. For moderate to severe pectus excavatum, your doctor may recommend non-surgical treatment, such as wearing a vacuum cup corrector, or consider surgical correction in severe cases. Pay attention to your child's movement and breathing in daily life. If there is limited activity or other obvious discomfort, you need to seek professional help in time.