Often, the pushing outward of the breastbone is the only symptom that a person experiences.
Some people may report other symptoms, such as:
- shortness of breath, which is more common during exercise
- tenderness or pain in the areas of abnormal cartilage growth
- frequent respiratory infections
- asthma
- tiredness
- chest pain
- rapid heart rate
In some children, the appearance of pectus carinatum may be worse on one side, with the opposite side appearing to have a dip in it. This dip is called pectus excavatum.
The condition may also be associated with certain medical conditions including:
- heart disease
- scoliosis, abnormal curvature of the spine
- kyphosis, where the back is hunched
- other musculoskeletal abnormalities
- connective tissue disorders, such as Marfan syndrome
- abnormal growth patterns
