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

Go to a hospital's emergency department 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 symptoms can be signs of a heart attack. If you are not sure what is causing your condition, always go to the emergency department.