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The Safe and Successful Management of Acute Pain in the Infant and Young Child

  • Pain Management (S Mace, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Emergency and Hospital Medicine Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

The purpose of this review is to assist clinicians in making evidence-based pharmacologic choices for treating pain in children. Pain is one of the most common reasons patients present to an Emergency Department. Determining the most appropriate way to control pain is a challenge in adults, but is even more difficult when treating infants and small children because of their increased risk of complications related to treatment. Historically, children with pain were treated less often and less aggressively than adults for a variety of reasons. Better tools for assessment and improved management guidelines have given pediatric providers the ability to apply more appropriate therapy.

Recent Findings

New options for analgesia offer safer, more effective treatment. Traditionally held ideas about safety and efficacy of many medications have recently come into question.

Summary

Treatment of pediatric pain begins with effective assessment. After assessing the pain level, the type and dose of pain control can be determined. Mild pain can be controlled with oral non-narcotic medications, while moderate to severe pain is often treated with a combination of non-narcotic and opiate analgesics. Venipuncture and brief procedural pain can be addressed with a variety of topical agents.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cleveland Clinic Emergency Services Institute, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Judith Welsh & Todd Welsh

  2. Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA

    Judith Welsh

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  1. Judith Welsh
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  2. Todd Welsh
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Correspondence to Judith Welsh.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Pain Management

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Welsh, J., Welsh, T. The Safe and Successful Management of Acute Pain in the Infant and Young Child. Curr Emerg Hosp Med Rep 6, 37–43 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40138-018-0153-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40138-018-0153-x

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