June 8, 2022, 8:42 am | Read time: 3 minutes
Children don’t always cry or scream when they’re in pain. Yet, they send signals. FITBOOK reveals how parents can correctly interpret these signals and why it’s generally wise to treat the pain.
When something hurts us, we complain. We scream, cry, or moan. But children have entirely different ways of dealing with pain. Philipp Gude, senior physician at the Clinic for Anesthesiology at the Catholic Hospital Bochum, has studied how well parents can assess their child’s pain. In an interview, he explains how to recognize if children are suffering from pain and why it must be treated.
Overview
- How do children differ from adults in expressing pain?
- How can parents specifically recognize if children are in pain?
- Parents often hesitate to give their children painkillers. Is this justified?
- What does “pain memory” mean?
- What should parents pay attention to when treating pain?
- A blood draw in the doctor’s office often hurts children a lot. Can anything be done about it?
How do children differ from adults in expressing pain?
Philipp Gude: “Some cry and scream, moan or hold the affected body part—just like adults. But quiet children can also be in pain, and they are often overlooked or misjudged.”
How can parents specifically recognize if children are in pain?
Gude: “Children in pain, for example, show less interest in playing, are quieter, and seek the closeness of their parents. A lack of appetite can also be a sign of pain. Behavioral changes in general should raise awareness. Parents are therefore very well suited to assess whether their child is in pain and how severe it is.”
Also interesting: These painkillers should not be taken by teenagers
Parents often hesitate to give their children painkillers. Is this justified?
Gude: “That’s true. International studies also show this. Many fear possible addiction and side effects. But what is often overlooked: Pain itself also has consequences. A pain memory develops.
What does “pain memory” mean?
Gude: “A child who has already experienced a painful procedure reacts much more intensely to pain during the next procedure than a child who has not had such an experience. That’s why pain should be treated.”
Also interesting: Infections that frequently affect children
Children Often Drown Right in Front of Their Parents
What Parents Should Know When Their Baby Has a Fever
What should parents pay attention to when treating pain?
Gude: “The most important thing is to follow the dosage instructions. If a child has had surgery, I advise parents to get a written recommendation for pain medication from the treating physician. A hospital stay with a child is an exceptional situation. Many parents simply don’t remember what the doctor said once they’re home. Consistent treatment of acute pain may also involve taking painkillers regularly over a longer period after an operation.”
Also interesting: These childhood illnesses parents should know about
https://oembed/fitbook/affiliate/e5f2e4f64b8d6b46968557f28e088be81bc4e28dd501b44c4b17c4552b4c28df/900b495e-d27d-429e-892a-029abf95d223/embed
A blood draw in the doctor’s office often hurts children a lot. Can anything be done about it?
Gude: “Yes, there are patches that numb the skin around the injection site. In my view, this is absolutely sensible. As mentioned: Such experiences are also stored in the pain memory. However, I don’t know how widely these patches are already used. Parents can certainly ask about them in their pediatrician’s office.”
With material from dpa