[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2017\/02\/pain-in-children\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2017\/02\/pain-in-children\/","headline":"Types of Pain in Children and How to Treat It","name":"Types of Pain in Children and How to Treat It","description":"One of the most fundamental desires of parents is to comfort their children when they are in pain. Dr. Evelyn Reis, MD, Professor of Pediatrics and Clinical & Translational Research, provides some steps that you can take to identify and relieve common types of pain in children. Pain With Vaccines Pain with vaccine injections is […]","datePublished":"2017-02-02","dateModified":"2021-09-23","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/","name":"UPMC","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/upmc\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Young-beautiful-girl-over-isolated-background-with-hand-on-stomach-because-indigestion-painful-illness-feeling-unwell.-Ache-concept.-1043332508_5315x3452-scaled.jpeg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Young-beautiful-girl-over-isolated-background-with-hand-on-stomach-because-indigestion-painful-illness-feeling-unwell.-Ache-concept.-1043332508_5315x3452-scaled.jpeg","height":1330,"width":2048},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2017\/02\/pain-in-children\/","about":["Pediatrics"],"wordCount":1332,"articleBody":"One of the most fundamental desires of parents is to comfort their children when they are in pain. Dr. Evelyn Reis, MD, Professor of Pediatrics and Clinical & Translational Research, provides some steps that you can take to identify and relieve common types of pain in children.Pain With VaccinesPain with vaccine injections is one of the most common types of pain that children experience. In addition to discomfort, untreated injection or \u201cshot\u201d pain can lead to anxiety about going to the doctor. In fact, many adults don\u2019t get the medical care they need due to their own fear of shots.The good news is that there are simple ways to ease the \u201couch\u201d of injections that help kids (and kids at heart) feel less anxious about future doctor visits. Here are tips for each age group:InfantsResearch by my colleagues and I at UPMC Children\u2019s has shown that babies who are snuggled closely in their parents\u2019 arms during vaccine injections and allowed to breastfeed or suck on a bottle or pacifier stop crying much faster than babies who are vaccinated on an exam table. Parents should feel empowered to tell nurses that they want to hold their babies for vaccines if this is not the office\u2019s routine practice. Giving babies a small amount of a sweet liquid, such as Sweet-ease\u00ae, to drink before injections provides additional pain relief. Finally, after injections, parents can take a few minutes to calm and settle their babies before dressing them to leave.Once home, parents should plan to give extra TLC in the first 48 hours after vaccines to help relieve fussiness and discomfort. A warm washcloth applied to the legs can help with muscle soreness and a cool washcloth can reduce swelling. It is important not to give over-the-counter pain medication unless the baby\u2019s doctor advises it. Research shows that giving acetaminophen after vaccines can reduce a baby\u2019s immune response, making the vaccines less protective.ToddlersParents can hold toddlers on their laps and use active distraction, such as a reading a pop-up book, singing a song together or blowing on a pinwheel. Young children often take words literally, so avoid using the term \u201cshot.\u201d Instead, explain that the nurse will give the child medicine in his arm or leg to keep him healthy.It is normal for toddlers to be wary of vaccines. Reassurance from parents during the procedure (\u201cI\u2019m right here with you\u201d) and congratulations afterward (\u201cGood job!\u201d) help young children learn self-mastery of challenging experiences. As with infants, applying a warm washcloth or allowing the child to play in a warm bath after vaccines can ease muscle discomfort. Parents can give an over-the-counter pain medication (acetaminophen or ibuprofen, not aspirin) if advised by their child\u2019s doctor.Older Children and TeensMy research has found that combining active distraction (such as blowing on a pinwheel or counting to 10) with a numbing cooling spray to the skin allowed many 4- and 5-year-old children to get their pre-Kindergarten vaccines without a single tear. Cooling spray, such as Pain Ease\u00ae spray, works in a few seconds and costs less than 50 cents per application. Parents can ask their child\u2019s doctor to order this spray for routine use. To help prepare your child for the cold sensation, asking them to name their favorite cold item, such as a snowball or popsicle or even a kiss from a polar bear! Cooling spray is very helpful during flu vaccine season, as only the injection\u2014not the nasal spray\u2014is recommended.Pain With IllnessPain is a common symptom of infectious illness in children, such as ear infections, strep throat, stomach viruses, skin infections, and pneumonia. Typically, there are other signs of infection, such as fever, runny nose, vomiting, diarrhea, drainage of pus, or cough. Parents should call their child\u2019s doctor promptly to discuss these symptoms, especially if:The child is an infantActivity, drinking, or breathing are affectedSymptoms are worseningIf the doctor advises it, parents can give over-the-counter pain medication (acetaminophen or ibuprofen, not aspirin) and fluids, encourage rest, and closely monitor symptoms.\u00a0Pain With TeethingBabies often appear uncomfortable when their teeth are erupting (cutting through gum tissue). Here are some suggestions about how to help babies through this normal phase:DoGive babies a cool teething ring or cloth to chew on (be sure that parts cannot break off)If bottle fed, put prepared bottles in the refrigerator to chill themGive over-the-counter pain medication, if advised by the baby\u2019s doctorTry a small amount of numbing gel on the sore gum tissueDon\u2019tGive babies frozen teething rings to hold as they can cause frostbite if held in contact with the skin; instead, hold teething rings on baby\u2019s gums for themGive babies frozen foods to chew on as they can break when they thaw, becoming choking hazardsGive babies chicken bones to chew on, as they can also break apart and often are contaminated with salmonella (which causes serious bacterial diarrheal illness)Pain With InjuryPain often accompanies minor injuries, such as a twisted ankle. If your child is feeling and acting normally, you can try RICE: Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation of the injured body part. However, you should seek emergency medical treatment if your child has:A head injury, especially if there was loss of consciousness or if the child complains of dizziness, nausea, vomiting or is less alertAbnormal shape or deformation of a long bone in the arm or legSharp pain to touch of a specific area, which may indicate a broken boneBleeding that cannot be controlled with pressurePain That Comes BackChildren often have recurrent pains, such as headaches and stomachaches, which are not due to acute infections or injuries. Here are some common causes of recurrent pains:MigrainesChildren of parents who get migraines are more likely to develop migraine headaches themselves. Lifestyle approaches are helpful in reducing headache frequency, including regular and adequate sleep habits, eating breakfast every morning, drinking plenty of water, getting daily exercise, and limiting screen time \u2014 especially before bedtime. Seek prompt medical care if your child complains of headaches accompanied by vision changes, vomiting, or balance changes, and headaches that wake the child at night, occur with getting up in the morning, or with coughing or sneezing.\u00a0ConstipationA common cause of frequent stomachaches is constipation, which can be associated with eating a low-fiber diet and not drinking enough water. Call your child\u2019s doctor to discuss stomachaches if they accompany hard bowel movements. The doctor may recommend:Slowly increasing fiber intake, such as whole grain cereals and breadsIncreasing water intakeEstablishing a regular toilet sitting schedule after mealsA stool softenerSeek emergent care for stomachaches and constipation if your child\u2019s belly is hard or tender to touch or if they develop vomiting.Emotional CausesFor some children with recurrent pains, the discomfort is real but the cause is emotional, rather than physical. The clue is often in the timing of the discomfort. For example, pain that arises only the night before or the morning of school days could be due to a child\u2019s fear of a classroom bully, difficulty learning a subject, or anxiety about separation from a family member. Changes in the child\u2019s household or living arrangement are common triggers, including a new baby sibling, divorce or remarriage, or a seriously ill parent. If your child seems to have pain due to emotional issues, schedule a non-emergent visit with your child\u2019s doctor to discuss the recurrent symptoms, as well as any changes in the child\u2019s environment.In general, parents should be concerned if a child\u2019s pain:Wakes the child from sleepPrevents participation in normal activities, especially activities the child enjoysIs worsening over timeDoes not respond to the treatment advised by the child\u2019s doctorFor more information, visit www.chp.edu.Updated Sept. 14, 2020"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2017","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2017\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"02","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2017\/\/02\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Types of Pain in Children and How to Treat It","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2017\/02\/pain-in-children\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]