How to find what you are looking for
The content in this condition centre has been organized to follow the natural course of investigation. The site examines pain
from symptom recognition, to diagnosis, to treatment, to long-term outcomes. Although it is not essential, it is recommended
that the material be read using this progression.
The information in this site has come from many sources and has been adapted in collaboration with the Pain Team at The Hospital
for Sick Children.
This section helps you understand what pain is, how it is felt, and the reasons why it occurs. It also contains an extended
examination of the different types of pain, and the typical symptoms pain produces in children of different ages. Why the
treatment of pain is so important beyond relieving discomfort is also addressed.
Assessment is critical in order to select a proper approach to treating pain. This section provides key information about
how your child's pain is assessed, as well as the different factors that affect how pain is felt. It also examines the challenges faced
by health care professionals putting a number on the amount of pain children of different ages feel.
Unless there is an immediate life-saving priority, relieving pain should begin immediately. This section provides information
on the various pharmacological, behavioural, and psychological techniques that are used to relieve pain. Relieving pain is
often a team effort involving health care professionals, the child, and parents.
Some pain occurs at home and can be relieved at home. In other cases, pain is more long term and will still be present even
after a trip to the hospital. This section provides advice on effectively treating different types of pain at home.
This section contains information on the long-term treatment of chronic pain and how it affects aspects of a child’s life,
from school to socializing. It also addresses how to manage the transition from child to adult care to ensure a healthy future.
Discussions of the long-term risks of pain and the ongoing research efforts in the field of pain assessment and treatment
are also included.
Please remember that this information should only be used as a guide. Every child's situation is unique. If you have specific
questions about your own child's care, please speak to your child's doctor.
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Even though we may feel pain in a certain area of the body, pain really occurs in the brain
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The decision to use one particular type of medicine over another will depend on the age of your child and the severity and
type of pain she experiences.
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No method of measuring pain is perfect. The most important method is probably what your child tells you.
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