How do you explain chest pains in children. My granddaughter is 5 and has been complaining of chest pains. She refuses to eat. Her parents are divorced and the father,our son, is in the Air Force stationed in Japan. He's been the primary caregiver since she was born. The parents have duel custody at this time, but my son will have her in Japan with him in mid-March. The mother has put the child in "dangerous positions". The mother is a frequent drinker and is most concerned about herself. Is it possible that the child could be suffering from separation anxiety?