• Reference Number: HEY993/2025
• Departments: Emergency Department, Paediatrics
• Last Updated: 31 May 2025

Introduction

This leaflet has been produced to give you general information about your child’s condition. Most of your questions should be answered by this leaflet. It is not intended to replace the discussion between you and the healthcare team, but may act as a starting point for discussion. If after reading it you have any concerns or require further explanation, please discuss this with a member of the healthcare team caring for your child.

What is Irritable Hip?

Irritable hip (or transient synovitis) is a temporary inflammation of the hip which is common in children. The inflammation of the hip causes the child to limp and may complain of pain in the hip or leg. The exact cause is not known but it commonly happens after a viral illness or a minor injury. Irritable hip usually goes away after 1 to 2 weeks and does not cause any long-term problems. A small number of children will go on to have further episodes.

What should I look out for?

Please return to the Emergency Department immediately if your child:

• Becomes unwell
• Develops a high temperature
• Has increasing pain
• Develops any obvious swelling or redness to the hip or leg
• Is unable to put any weight onto the affected leg

These are symptoms which might indicate a more serious problem.

You should also see a doctor if your child is not better after 1 to 2 weeks.

How can I care for my child at home?

• You should encourage your child to rest the affected leg as much as possible whilst they are sore.
• Your child should not attend school or nursery until they have recovered.
• Your child will naturally adopt the most comfortable position for themselves.
• Allow your child to gradually go back to their usual activities as they improve.
• Give regular pain relief medication such as paracetamol and / or ibuprofen given with food. Paracetamol can be given every four to six hours (no more than four times a day) and ibuprofen every six to eight hours (no more than three times a day). Do not exceed the dose stated on the bottle or packet for your child’s age group.

General Advice and Consent

Most of your questions should have been answered by this leaflet, but remember that this is only a starting point for discussion with the healthcare team.

Consent to treatment

Before any doctor, nurse or therapist examines or treats your child, they must seek your consent or permission. In order to make a decision, you need to have information from health professionals about the treatment or investigation which is being offered to your child. You should always ask them more questions if you do not understand or if you want more information.

The information you receive should be about your child’s condition, the alternatives available for your child, and whether it carries risks as well as the benefits. What is important is that your consent is genuine or valid. That means:

• you must be able to give your consent
• you must be given enough information to enable you to make a decision
• you must be acting under your own free will and not under the strong influence of another person

Information about your child

We collect and use your child’s information to provide your child with care and treatment. As part of your child’s care, information about your child will be shared between members of a healthcare team, some of whom you may not meet. Your child’s information may also be used to help train staff, to check the quality of our care, to manage and plan the health service, and to help with research. Wherever possible we use anonymous data.

We may pass on relevant information to other health organisations that provide your child with care. All information is treated as strictly confidential and is not given to anyone who does not need it. If you have any concerns please ask your child’s doctor, or the person caring for your child.

Under the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018 we are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of any information we hold about your child. For further information visit the following page: Confidential Information about You.

If you need information about your child’s (or a child you care for) health and wellbeing and their care and treatment in a different format, such as large print, braille or audio, due to disability, impairment or sensory loss, please advise a member of staff and this can be arranged.