Hidden pain in the ribs of the chest can have a variety of causes, and diseases such as trauma to the chest, infection or malignant disease of the lungs, chondromalacia of the ribs, and lesions of the heart and other internal organs are generally considered. 1. Chest trauma: If there is a past history of chest trauma, the presence of soft tissue contusion of the chest wall may trigger faint rib pain, which requires X-ray or chest CT examination for clear diagnosis and treatment. 2. Lung infection or malignant disease: lobar pneumonia, bronchopneumonia or lung cancer invades the pleura or localized ribs, leading to bone destruction and triggering vague chest pain, which requires imaging examination and relies on anti-inflammatory treatment with antibiotics or targeted therapy. 3. Costochondritis: the patient’s contusion or infection leads to inflammation at the cartilage joint of the ribs, resulting in costochondritis, which may cause vague pain in the ribs of the chest, and antibacterial or antiviral treatment is needed. 4. Diseases of the heart and other internal organs: cardiovascular diseases such as heart failure, arrhythmia and heart attack may also cause pain. Some lesions or inflammation of internal organs, such as liver and biliary system, may involve the surface of ribs and cause pain. If the pain in the chest ribs is not relieved after a short period of rest and observation, you should consult a doctor for examination and treatment.