Principles & Practice of Pain Medicine > Part V. Pain Syndromes > E. Pediatric and Geriatric Pain > Chapter 54. Chronic Pain in Infants and Children Christine D. Greco and Yuan-Chi Lin

Chronic Pain in Infants and Children: Introduction

"Management of chronic pain is an essential part of pediatric practice that requires an understanding of pediatric illnesses and the psychosocial aspects of chronic pain conditions experienced by children. Many children experience a variety of chronic recurrent pains such as recurrent abdominal pain or headaches. Chronic recurrent pain is more common in children than persistent pain, and is less likely to be associated with underlying organic disease. Chronic pain may become persistent in conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, malignancies, sickle cell disease, or neuropathic pain syndromes. Because of the complex nature of chronic pain, treatment is often approached from a broad-based medical model that utilizes the expertise of psychologists, neurologists, anesthesiologists, nurses, and other health care providers. This chapter reviews some of the more common types of recurrent and persistent pain among children and summarizes treatment strategies, including pharmacologic as well as nonpharmacologic therapies...."