Children are counted among the most vulnerable populations who require immediate attention regarding pain assessment and management. Unfamiliar pain can bring stress to both patient and the caregiver. And, this is where renowned pediatrics in Kolkata intervene to ease the situation.

Pain can be experienced in two forms by a child – acute and chronic. And, most of them go undertreated due to poor recognition methods. 

Some even go untreated due to the careless action of the caregiver. Thus, good pain management is required to speed up the recovery period for a child.

Let’s go through the process of pediatric pain assessment, treatment and prevention:

Understanding the intensity of the pain

 

Assessing the pain in a child includes 3 major components – biological, psychologically and socially. Different children experience pain differently, based on age and development level.

A neonate can experience 7+ painful procedures when admitted to the Intensive Care Unit based on recent data. Thus, parents need to relate to cues if the child is unable to describe the pain. So, you need to rely on their gestures such as crying, laughing, verbal expressions and changes in the eating routine. 

For a child aged 3 and above years old, the most common assessment tool is a verbal numerical scale that helps understand how bad the pain is. But, for those who cannot yet quantify the level of pain, different assessment tools and techniques are used by Pediatrics in Kolkata.

Types of pathophysiologies:

 

1. Acute somatic pain can develop due to tissue injury; it may be a cut or bruise, and the general response is localized pain. 
2. Neuropathic pain results from severe injury and leaves the patients with a burning sensation. This includes headaches and musculoskeletal pain.
3. Visceral pain includes chest and abdominal pain, and the general sensation is cramps and unlocalized ache.
4. Persistent pain develops from internal damage and continues without any expectation of healing.

Treatment process

 

Pediatrics in Kolkata usually warn the parents against over-the-counter medications for a child. Because detailed information is required to prescribe medications for a child. That includes – medical history, imagery or laboratory investigation, and clinical examination. Underlying diseases such as infection and trauma require specific tests.

Mild pain

Basic analgesia is usually administered, including acetaminophen, ibuprofen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Vapocoolant sprays are also advised to ease muscular pain.

Acute pain

Opioids are administrated for severe acute pain. After controlling the side effects, oral medicines or IV (directly into the vein) are also prescribed. 

Chronic and Persistent pain

Both basic analgesia and opioid are administrated at the same time. Operative methods are prescribed for regional blockage. 

Along with medications, an interdisciplinary rehabilitative approach is also included in the daily routine. This helps the child to get back to a normalized life, including playing, going to school, adequate sleep and social interaction. The right decision can help a child cope with pain at the right moment.

Avoid misconceptions about pediatric pain

Certain misconceptions lead to undertreatment of pain and cause hindrance in the recovery process, such as –

Myth 1- Infants and children do not feel pain like adults.

Myth 2- Routined pain assessment is not required for children.

Myth 3- Analgesic medications can lead to respiratory depression

Myth 4- There is no fixed dosage for pain management in children.

Myth 5- Children takes much longer to heal.

Child Pain Prevention 

You cannot obliviate the possibility of a child going through an injury or pain. Instead, as a caregiver, you can help them cope. For example, after any surgical process, look for the child developing side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, excessive sleeping, constipation, etc. 

You need to stay in touch with the experienced pediatrics in Kolkata during the recovery process to manage the child’s care plan. So, don’t hesitate to contact the pediatrics at ILS Hospitals to get the best medical facilities for your child.