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Updated: Jan 25, 2026
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A Thin-skull Window Technique for Chronic Two-photon In vivo Imaging of Murine Microglia in Models of Neuroinflammation
Published on: September 19, 2010
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Neuroinflammation and Pediatric Chronic Pain - A Review.
Hannah Rogan1, Allison M Smith2,3, Gwyneth Farr4
1Boston Children's Hospital, Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care & Pain Medicine, Division of Pain Medicine, 2 Brookline Place, 6th floor, Brookline, MA, 02445, USA. hannah.rogan@childrens.harvard.edu.
Current Pain and Headache Reports
|January 24, 2026
Summary
Neuroinflammation contributes to pediatric chronic pain. Targeting brain inflammation offers potential for pain management, but more research in children is urgently needed.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pediatric Medicine
- Immunology
Background:
- Pediatric chronic pain affects approximately 20% of children.
- Neuroinflammation, involving glial cells and inflammatory markers, is increasingly linked to chronic pain.
- Developing nervous systems in children may be particularly vulnerable to neuroinflammatory processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current literature on neuroinflammation in pediatric chronic pain.
- To highlight the role of glial cells, inflammatory markers, and metabolic pathways.
- To identify implications for clinical practice and future research in pediatric pain.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent studies on neuroinflammation and pediatric chronic pain.
- Analysis of research on glial cell involvement (microglia, astrocytes).
- Examination of pro-inflammatory markers (interleukins, TNF-α) and metabolic pathways (oxidative stress).
Main Results:
- Neuroinflammation is a significant factor in the development and maintenance of chronic pain in children.
- Pediatric factors like developmental vulnerability and life stressors can exacerbate neuroinflammation.
- Current pediatric-specific research is limited, underscoring a critical knowledge gap.
Conclusions:
- Targeting neuroinflammation presents a promising avenue for managing pediatric chronic pain.
- Further research focusing specifically on children is essential to advance treatment strategies.
- Understanding the interplay between neuroinflammation, stress, and pain in pediatric populations is crucial.
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