title: [Pain in children in the 21st century].
abstract: Pain is undertreated in children due to historical reasons. The pain afferent tracts are developed in 21 weeks of gestation and it is well documented that preterm and neonates can experience pain. Pain in neonates leads to ncreased distress and altered pain response later in life. pain assessment in children is chalLenging. In the preverbal age using scales combining physiological and behavioral parameters help estimating the pain. Older children can use VAS scales but their pain scoring is affected by developmental age changes. Children respond to pain management treatments differently than adults. Some medications are not approved for use in children. Non-pharmacologic treatment is more effective, while invasive treatment such as regional nerve blocks for chronic pain is Less effective in children. Chronic pain is ignored or overlooked in children. This can lead to physicaL, emotional, psychological and social effects. Children may be absent from school and withdraw from their friends. Children with chronic pain will most likely become adults with chronic pain. Accepting chronic pain in children as a real problem and attempting to treat it at a young age may help decrease rates of adult pain in the future. The family doctor may be looking for serious causes for the pain. Referrals to specialists can Leave children without proper pain management or treatment. The Pediatric Pain Clinic is a multidisciplinary program specifically aiming to provide treatment and support for acute and chronic pain in children to conquer pain, help children to cope with chronic pain and avoid future complications.
authors.affiliation: Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel. cmrachelef@clalit.org.il
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Efrat
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000379:methods; D059350:Chronic Pain; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D000075202:Contraindications; D061345:Early Medical Intervention; D047109:Fetal Development; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D010146:Pain / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D018710:Pain Clinics / Q000458:organization & administration; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D011580:Psychological Techniques; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics