Boys tend to get this disease more frequently than girls, although girls can also develop it. The hip joint becomes weak, and is not able to handle weight. This results in pain in the child's hip or knee. Occasionally, there will be a limp. To diagnose this disease, your healthcare provider needs to do x-ray studies of the hip.
Treatment depends primarily on when the problem is diagnosed.
The treatment may require bed rest for 6 months to a year, until the condition improves. When the bone can tolerate the child's weight, crutches, braces or casts are usually necessary. Activities can be gradually resumed as tolerated. If treatment is delayed, permanent bone injury may occur and require surgery to replace the hip. An evaluation by a healthcare provider should occur if your child has hip pain, knee pain, stiffness, or a limp.