Thompson Lindsay A, Meinert Elizabeth, Baker Kimberly, Knapp Caprice
1Departments of Pediatrics and Epidemiology and Health Policy Research, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Am J Hosp Palliat Care. 2013 Dec;30(8):764-7. doi: 10.1177/1049909112473632. Epub 2013 Jan 16.
Pain is common as a presenting complaint to outpatient and emergency departments for children, yet pain management represents one of the children's largest unmet needs. A child may present with acute pain for an intermittent issue or may have acute or chronic pain in the setting of chronic illness. The mainstay of treatment for pain uses a stepwise approach for pain management, such as set up by the World Health Organization. For children with life-limiting illnesses, the Institute of Medicine guidelines recommends referral upon diagnosis for palliative care, meaning that the child receives comprehensive services that include pain control in coordination with curative therapies; yet barriers remain. From the provider perspective, pain can be better addressed through a careful assessment of one's own knowledge, skills, and attitudes. The key components of pain management in children are multimodal, regardless of the cause of the pain.
