Pain in children

Abstract

The systematic approach to management of acute and chronic pain in children is a relatively new concept [1]. One reason for the neglect of pain management in children in general, and in neonates in particular is that pain is quite difficult to assess, and even more challenging when its victims are very young or preverbal. Another reason is historical, as old anatomy studies proposed that the brain's key development finished within the first few years of life. At the time, this view led the medical community to believe that since the central nervous system of the neonate and child was not fully developed, and that neonates were not capable of perceiving pain. This often resulted in conducting invasive procedures without analgesic or anesthesia [1-4].