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[Pain in children: specific aspects]
E Fournier-Charrière1, J P Dommergues
1Service de pédiatrie générale, hôpital de Bicêtre, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre.
Insights
Childhood pain is poorly understood and undertreated, despite nociception mechanisms developing before birth. Understanding pain
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience and Developmental Psychology
- Pediatric Pain Research
Context:
- Childhood pain remains a significant clinical challenge, often overlooked and inadequately managed.
- Neurophysiological pathways for nociception are present prenatally, indicating early biological underpinnings of pain.
Purpose:
- To highlight the current gaps in understanding and treatment of pain in children.
- To underscore the developmental trajectory of pain experience from infancy through childhood.
Summary:
- Pain in children manifests differently based on duration: acute pain elicits stress responses, while chronic pain may present with antalgic postures, psychomotor changes, and denial.
- Established evaluation tools exist for pediatric pain assessment.
- Treatment strategies range from peripheral analgesics to morphine for severe pain.
Impact:
- Improved recognition and diagnosis of childhood pain conditions.
- Enhanced clinical management protocols for pediatric pain.
- Increased awareness and research focus on the long-term consequences of undertreated childhood pain.
Abstract:
Childhood pain is still poorly understood, neglected and undertreated. The neurophysiological mechanisms of nociception exist before birth. The experience of pain develops during childhood. Its symptomatology has been detailed: sharp emotional reactions and signs of stress during acute pain, antalgic posture, psychomotor atony and denial when pain is prolonged. Specific tools for evaluation are available. Treatment generally calls for the use of peripheral analgesics, and increased intensity of pain can require administration of morphine.