Bunions can occur during childhood as well and are called juvenile hallux valgus. The hallux (big toe) turns inwards to face the second toe, and a bony bump forms over the joint of the first toe.
Symptoms of bunions include:
For more information on bunions and how they form, you can refer their full entry here.
Bunions in children are caused by the same factors as in adults. Namely:
If left untreated, the bunion can lead to even more serious problems like a stiffened big toe or arthritis later in life. Fortunately, as children’s feet are still soft and pliable, bunions are more easily addressed early on. We highly recommend seeing a podiatrist to seek treatment for bunions before they worsen.
Based in Singapore, Degree in Podiatric Medicine from the University of Johannesburg. Published in The Foot and member of The Golden Key Honour Society.