Pain Management In Children
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WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:
- Pain is an unpleasant feeling and emotional experience that your child often complains of when he is hurt or injured. It may be a sign that there is something bad happening in an organ or tissue of his body. The body contains special cells that receive signals when there is damage or injury to the body. These cells will send information to the brain that there is an ongoing injury. When the brain receives the message, the body will be informed and he feels the pain. Pain is acute if it is sudden and lasts only a few days to a few weeks. It is chronic if the pain lasts for several weeks to months.
- Pain may be caused by an injury, trauma, disease, or damage to a part of the body. Medical procedures, such as blood tests and surgery, may also cause pain. Your child may tell you directly that he is in pain or you may see it through his behavior. Pain scales, such as a faces pain scale, poker chip tool, and color pain scale, may be used to measure the level of pain. Physiologic (body function) and behavior changes, such as facial expression, may also be used to check the level of his pain. Medicines like analgesics, anesthetics, and non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), may be used to control the pain. Controlling pain as soon as possible may help relieve your child's symptoms and improve his quality of life.
INSTRUCTIONS:
Medicines:
- Pain medicine: Caregivers may give medicine to decrease your child's pain. Tell a caregiver if your child's pain does not go away or comes back after taking this medicine. Pain medicine can have side effects. Tell a caregiver if your child has trouble breathing, is very sleepy, or has an upset stomach. Tell a caregiver if your child is allergic to any medicine.
- Keep a list of your child's medicines: Keep a written list of the medicines your child takes, the amounts, and when and why they are taken. Bring the list of your child's medicines or the medicine bottles when you visit your child's caregivers. Ask your child's caregiver for more information about the medicines. Do not give any medicines to your child without first asking your child's caregiver. This includes prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, herbs, or food supplements.
- Give your child's medicine as directed: Always give your child's medicine as directed by his caregivers. Call your child's caregiver if you think your child's medicines are not helping. Call if you feel your child is having side effects. Do not quit giving the medicines to your child until you discuss it with your child's caregiver.
- Do not give aspirin to children under 18 years of age: Giving aspirin to your child when he is ill may cause a very serious illness called Reye's Syndrome. This could lead to brain and liver damage. Read medicine labels to see if your child's medicine has aspirin in it.
- Analgesics: These medicines may include acetaminophen and morphine. It may be taken every 4 to 6 hours for mild to moderate pain. Morphine is given to provide longer control of pain. It may be given as patient controlled analgesia.
- Patient controlled analgesia (PCA): A device is used to give your child pain medicine. This device has an electric pump connected by a tube to an IV line. The IV tube is placed in your child's vein usually in the arm. Your child receives medicine from the pump through the tube when he is in pain. Ask you child's caregiver for more information about PCA.
- Patient controlled analgesia (PCA): A device is used to give your child pain medicine. This device has an electric pump connected by a tube to an IV line. The IV tube is placed in your child's vein usually in the arm. Your child receives medicine from the pump through the tube when he is in pain. Ask you child's caregiver for more information about PCA.
- Non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS): This medicine may be given to decrease inflammation which is redness, pain, and swelling. It is used for mild to moderate pain control, such as pain coming from a pulled tooth. It may also be used in controlling pain after surgery.
- Keep a list of your child's medicines: Keep a written list of the medicines your child takes, the amounts, and when and why they are taken. Bring the list of your child's medicines or the medicine bottles when you visit your child's caregivers. Ask your child's caregiver for more information about the medicines. Do not give any medicines to your child without first asking your child's caregiver. This includes prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, herbs, or food supplements.
Ask your child's caregiver when to return for a follow-up visit. Keep all appointments. Write down any questions you and your child may have. This way you will remember to ask these questions during your child's next visit.
CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:
- Your child has a fever (increased body temperature).
- Your child has nausea (stomach upset) or vomiting (throwing up).
- Your child had become sleepy more than the usual after taking his medicines.
SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF:
- Your child's skin becomes red, swollen and itchy.
- Your child has trouble breathing all of a sudden.
- Your child is very sad, depressed, or not able to cope with his pain or illness.
- Your child has a new pain, or the pain seems worse than before and does not go away
Copyright © 2008 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.
The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.
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