Your son is having constant pain in his upper left chest what could the cause be?

It could be a few things -- let's dispense with the emergencies first (you may not need to read the rest). Upper left chest pain occurs during cardiovascular accidents (CVA's), e,g, heart attacks. If you think this is the problem, stop reading and start a 911 call. If you aren't sure, read on: CVA's usually have some or all of the following symptoms and factors -- if a few show up in your son's history, the odds of it being a heart attack get higher: * Clamping is fist to his chest * Shortness of breath. * Referred pain making the left arm, neck, jaw and/or armpit hurt. * Sweathing/disphoresis * Turning pale or cyanotic/blue * Nausea * Irregular pulse * HIstory or prior cardiac complications. The more of these question that get a yes, the more likely this is a CVA. If so, time is limited. Take a moment to think and then call 911. If not too many -- or best, none -- of these symptoms show up, it could be other things. Okay -- that's likely the worst. If you're still here let's look at them. * Spinal trauma (like whiplash can cause this effect -- was your son the unluckly victim of sudden deceleration trauma (a fenderbender, a fall, etc.), today? If so, unless the fall was serious, this may work like whiplash. Coldpacks and mild painkillers/antiinflamatories and it'll go away. Of course, if at any point you aren't sure or want reasurrance, call the ER. * If the pain is associated with breathing, it could be anything from pneumonia to a cracked rib to a strained (intercostal most likley) muscle. If he has a fever or a cough (of or course both), start thinking chest infection, which calls for a doctor. * Is there a sign of impact or trauma on the chest? If he fell or ran into something you'll see a bruise. As breathing makes the chest move all the time, such painful events are exacerbated and continue to occur. Call 911 or an ER if: * The pain is unbearable. * The pain interferes with breathing. * Your son is pale, sweaty, or cyanotic. * if the pain is associated with coughing. * If he's expectorating blood. * If there are signs of a severe trauma at the pain site. * If you are seriously worried -- that's enough to call for help. Good luck!