Chronic pain in children

Abstract: Chronic pain (CP) in children is a significant medical condition. The exact incidence is difficult to define but we know that historically it has been underdiagnosed and undertreated. Children can present with a variety of pain conditions (e.g. chronic headache, abdominal pain and musculoskeletal/limb pain).The medical pathway of children with chronic pain is a long and stressful one, often involving extensive investigations. A child with chronic pain will show a variety of concomitant symptoms – sleep disturbance, school absence, psychological symptoms such as anxiety, low mood and in extreme cases depression. The impact on the family needs to be taken into consideration, as by the time the child is referred to pain management there is invariably a degree of parental stress and family dysfunction.Children with chronic pain should have a full assessment of their pain and require the input of a multidisciplinary team: physicians, physiotherapists, psychologists and child and adolescent psychiatrists. Treatment goals rely on reducing or eliminating the pain, improving overall function and allowing the child to develop successful coping strategies.
Source: Anaesthesia and intensive care medicine - Category: Anesthesiology Authors: Tags: Pain Source Type: research