Abstract
Pain and suffering are the most misunderstood, under diagnosed, and under treated/untreated medical problems, particularly in children. Therefore one of the most challenging roles of medical providers serving children is to appropriately assess and treat their pain.
Pain is truly both a physical and an emotional experience perceived and processed by the brain, and it is a real health problem as well.
Experienced pain is influenced by biological, psychological and social factors. Pain assessment in children is particularly challenging due to the wide variation in physiological responses, communication abilities and developmental stages of this group of patients.
Assessment of pain in children is linked to their level of development. Children of the same age vary widely in their perception and tolerance of pain.
Children are particularly responsive to pain-controlling strategies that involve their imaginations and senses of play.