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Retrospective case report: evaluation of pain in a child with pervasive developmental disorder
Ana C Mieres1, Varina Smallwood, Sheila K Nicholson
1School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA. amieres@health.usf.edu
Purpose:
To describe how a nurse and a physical therapist in an interprofessional (IP) school-based clinic collaborated to meet the needs of a child with pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified, with atypical classroom behaviors and declining student performance.
Summary:
The IP team sought answers for atypical classroom behaviors with declining student performance. Student sensory perceptions masked and delayed the ability to recognize infection.
Observations:
Cumulative observations by the team generated serial referrals until a diagnosis of dental abscess was identified.
Conclusions:
An IP team in this school setting generated a positive outcome for a student demonstrating absence of clear indicators of pain or infection, with additional positive outcomes for the clinic.
Recommendations For Clinical Practice:
Further studies are needed to recognize illness earlier in the absence of pain or pain perception in children with a form of autism spectrum disorder and to develop reliable and valid metrics for pain identification.
