Management of pain in children: a review of the literature.
BACKGROUND
Pain is a very common situation encountered in clinical practice. It is as common in children as in adults and often it is underevaluated and undertreated. The aim of this review is to stimulate and sensitize paediatricians and other child health care providers to the importance and necessity of adequate appreciation, evaluation, and management of pain in children.


METHODS
Review of the pertinent literature. Selected references to highlight the mechanism of pain, pain assessment tools and therapeutic approach to management, were included in this review.


RESULTS
Pain in children is underevaluated and undertreated. This is so even in developed countries. A study put the prevalence of pain among children at 26%, and that two out of every three patients with pain were not detected, and that one out of three patients detected received no treatment. Popular dogma held that the human child does not feel pain and that giving the child powerful analgesics may lead to addiction. Despite the availability of several pain assessment tools, they are under used in paediatric practice. Pain pathways develop in the second trimester, so the smallest neonate is able to respond to noxious stimulation.


CONCLUSIONS
Childhood pain is still underevaluated and under treated. The adequate management of pain in children is an important factor in better outcome of childhood illnesses.
Elusiyan
J B E
JB
Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
Senbanjo
I O
IO
D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D059408:Pain Management; D010147:Pain Measurement
D000700:Analgesics