Paediatrics pain management

Pain is one of the most common symptoms experienced the world over. It has always received the needed attention and care in the adult but not until recently among children. Several erroneous beliefs contributed to the inadequate attention among children such as assumption that children did not experience pain to the extent that adults do, because of the immature nervous system, or that children would not remember the pain. A paediatrician is expected to be knowledgeable about pediatric pain management principles, provide a calm environment for painful procedures, use appropriate assessment tools and techniques, anticipate painful experiences, use a multimodal approach (pharmacologic, cognitive, behavioral, and physical) to pain management, use a multidisciplinary approach when possible and involve families in creating solutions for their child’s pain. Studies have shown that the most common reason for unrelieved pain is failure to routinely assess pain and provide pain relief. The theories, pathways, transmission, regulations, classifications, assessment scales and the treatment of paediatric pain and practical issues that arise from the use of pharmacologic analgesic in the children were also reviewed and highlighted.