(HealthDay News) -- If a child has back pain, it is more likely than in adults to signal an underlying health problem, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons says.

The academy adds that back pain in children should be evaluated by a physician, especially if the child also is:

• Losing weight or running a fever.
• Complaining of numbness or weakness.
• Having difficulty walking.
• Having pain that extends from the back down one or both of the legs.
• Having bladder- or bowel-control issues.
• Having pain that prevents the child from sleeping.