APS Press Room
| For immediate release October 17, 2005 |
Contact: Chuck Weber (847) 705-1802 |
CHRONIC PAIN IN CHILDREN IS UNDERTREATED
American Pain Society Observes Global Pain Day Urging Better Diagnosis and Treatment of Pediatric Pain
GLENVIEW, Ill., Oct. 17, 2005 – Chronic pain in children is an under-recognized health problem throughout the world, even in the US, where it affects a significant percent of American children. Today, the American Pain Society (APS) joined other pain organizations worldwide in observing Global Pain Day to draw attention to the urgent need to improve children’s pain treatment in all health care settings.
Global Pain Day is sponsored by the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP). Today begins a 12 month worldwide initiative to increase public awareness about children’s pain and improve the global standard of pediatric pain management.
“Pain affects not only a child’s current health, it may contribute to disability and suffering later in life,” said Gary Walco, PhD, professor of pediatrics at New Jersey Medical School. “Inadequate prevention and relief of children’s pain, unfortunately, is still widespread and this reflects shortcomings in recognizing children’s ability to perceive, respond to and be harmed by pain.”
APS President Dennis Turk, PhD, professor of anesthesiology, University of Washington, added: “Although knowledge of neurophysiology, development of age-appropriate assessment methods and management of children’s pain have improved significantly, many barriers, such as exaggerated fears of side effects of analgesics and anesthetics combined with inadequate resources for clinician training, are hindering application of that knowledge to clinical care.”
According to Walco, children may avoid future medical-care experiences as a result of previous painful experiences in a hospital or clinic. Further, untreated pain experienced early in life can have profound and long-lasting effects on social, emotional and physical development. It also can foster long-term changes in the nervous system that appear to increase risk for developing chronic pain as adults. “What’s frustrating and tragic about this problem is most pain can be prevented, treated or at least significantly reduced using inexpensive medications or psychological and physical techniques,” said Walco.
With regard to pain treatments, Turk said some clinical studies have found that most children in developed countries receive inadequate pain management. For example, he noted that even though self-management techniques, such as relaxation and distraction, have proven to be effective, few children or parents are taught anxiety-reducing skills to prevent or reduce pain during after invasive procedures.
“As for medication use for chronic pain, many physicians and parents worry that potent analgesics are dangerous for children,” said Walco. “However, there is no evidence that children become addicted to strong pain medications that are prescribed appropriately. Further, pharmaceutical companies must provide drug preparations that are suitable for children in terms of dosage and convenient routes of administration, such as topical creams, oral lozenges or intranasal sprays.”
For next 12 months, IASP and APS have suggested key priorities for governments, health agencies and providers to make The Global Year Against Children’s Pain successful:
Global Priorities: Extend educational opportunities for health care providers in under-resourced areas, and where pain relief is limited by drug availability, advocate for improved funding and reduction of regulatory barriers.
National Priorities: Encourage public education on pediatric pain and challenge incorrect myths about pain treatment held by the public as well as some health care providers. As a further initiative, provide awards to local health care providers who make significant contributions to relief of children’s pain.
Turk said APS for several years has been at the forefront of building greater public and professional awareness about pediatric pain management. “Our organization strongly believes that pain in children should become a priority for health care professionals and society in general. Furthermore, training in pain measurement and management techniques must be expanded and improved so that all children can receive appropriate care. Above all, health policy makers worldwide must realize that children have the right to the best pain management possible.”