When to Seek Medical Care

Call the doctor for any of the following symptoms:
– Trouble breathing
– High fever
– Signs of infection such as redness, pus, and increased swelling at the rib joints
– Continuing or worsening pain despite medication
– Nausea
– Sweating

Go to a hospital’s emergency room if you have difficulty breathing or any of the following symptoms occur.

These symptoms are generally not associated with costochondritis:
– High fever not responding to fever-reducers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil)
– Signs of infection at the tender spot, such as pus, redness, increased pain, and swelling
– Persistent chest pain of any type associated with nausea, sweating, left arm pain, or any generalized chest pain that is not well localized. These may be signs of a heart attack. If you are not sure what is causing your condition, always go to the emergency room.

Source: NHS
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