Distress in My Chest: The Approach to a Student Presenting With “Chest Pain”

Abstract

Occasionally, students present with chest pain in the school setting. Therefore, it is important to develop a differential diagnosis for chest pain, to initiate stabilization of the student with life-threatening symptoms, and to triage these students to an appropriate level of care (back to the classroom, home with their guardian with follow up at their primary healthcare provider’s office, or directly to the closest emergency department via emergency medical services). This article describes the initial assessment and management of a student presenting with chest pain.