Skip to main content

Epidemiology of Chronic Pain in Children and Adolescents

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Practical Treatment Options for Chronic Pain in Children and Adolescents

Abstract

Chronic pain is common and affects approximately one-quarter to one-third of all children and adolescents. Older age, female sex and stress could be identified as risk factors. Overall, 5% of all children and adolescents suffer severely from chronic pain and are in need of an interdisciplinary pain treatment.

And I thought I was alone.

Jessica (15 years), chronic pain disorder with abdominal pain

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 79.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Albers L, Milde-Busch A, Bayer O, Lehmann S, Riedel C, Bonfert M, Heinen F, Straube A, von Kries R (2013) Prevention of headache in adolescents: population-attributable risk fraction for risk factors amenable to intervention. Neuropediatrics 44:40–45

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anttila P, Metsähonkala L, Sillanpää M (2006) Long-term trends in the incidence of headache in Finnish schoolchildren. Pediatrics 117:e1197–e1201

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bakoula C, Kapi A, Veltsista A, Kavadias G, Kolaitis G (2006) Prevalence of recurrent complaints of pain among Greek schoolchildren and associated factors: a population-based study. Acta Paediatr 95:947–951

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bandell-Hoekstra ENG, Abu-Saad HH, Passchier J, Frederiks CM, Feron FJ, Knipschild P (2001) Prevalence and characteristics of headache in Dutch schoolchildren. Eur J Pain 5:145–153

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Boey CCM, Goh KL (2001) The significance of life-events as contributing factors in childhood recurrent abdominal pain in an urban community in Malaysia. J Psychosom Res 51:559–562

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Caes L, Fisher E, Clinch J, Tobias JH, Eccleston C (2015) The role of pain-related anxiety in adolescents’ disability and social impairment: ALSPAC data. Eur J Pain 19:842–851

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chitkara DK, Rawat DJ, Talley NJ (2005) The epidemiology of childhood recurrent abdominal pain in Western countries: a systematic review. Am J Gastroenterol 100:1868–1875

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diepenmaat A, Van der Wal M, De Vet H, Hirasing R (2006) Neck/shoulder, low back, and arm pain in relation to computer use, physical activity, stress, and depression among Dutch adolescents. Pediatrics 117:412–416

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Du Y, Knopf H, Zhuang W, Ellert U (2011) Pain perceived in a national community sample of German children and adolescents. Eur J Pain 15:649–657

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Due P, Holstein BE, Lynch J, Diderichsen F, Gabhain SN, Scheidt P, Currie C (2005) Bullying and symptoms among school-aged children: international comparative cross sectional study in 28 countries. Eur J Pub Health 15:128–132

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ellert U, Neuhauser H, Roth-Isigkeit A (2007) [Pain in children and adolescents in Germany: the prevalence and usage of medical services. Results of the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS)]. Bundesgesundheitsbl - Gesundheitsforsch - Gesundheitsschutz 50:711–717

    Google Scholar 

  • Forgeron PA, McGrath P, Stevens B, Evans J, Dick B, Finley GA, Carlson T (2011) Social information processing in adolescents with chronic pain: my friends don’t really understand me. Pain 152:2773–2780

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gaßmann J, Vath N, van Gessel H, Kröner-Herwig B (2009) [Risk factors for headache in children]. Deutsches Ärzteblatt 106:509–516

    Google Scholar 

  • Gobina I, Villberg J, Villerusa A, Välimaa R, Tynjälä J, Ottova-Jordan V, Ravens-Sieberer U, Levin K, Cavallo F, Borraccino A (2015) Self-reported recurrent pain and medicine use behaviours among 15-year olds: results from the international study. Eur J Pain 19:77–84

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hakala P, Rimpela A, Salminen JJ, Virtanen SM, Rimpela M (2002) Back, neck and shoulder pain in Finnish adolescents: national cross sectional surveys. Br Med J 325:743

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haraldstad K, Sorum R, Eide H, Natvig GK, Helseth S (2011) Pain in children and adolescents: prevalence, impact on daily life, and parent’s perception, a school survey. Scand J Caring Sci 25:27–36

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hirschfeld G, Wager J, Zernikow B (2015) Physician consultation in young children with recurrent pain-a population-based study. PeerJ 3:e916

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huguet A, Miro J (2008) The severity of chronic paediatric pain: an epidemiological study. J Pain 9:226–236

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Juang K, Wang S-J, Fuh J, Lu S, Chen Y (2004) Association between adolescent chronic daily headache and childhood adversity: a community-based study. Cephalalgia 24:54–59

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • King S, Chambers CT, Huguet A, MacNevin RC, McGrath PJ, Parker L, MacDonald AJ (2011) The epidemiology of chronic pain in children and adolescents revisited: a systematic review. Pain 152:2729–2738

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Konijnenberg AY, Uiterwaal CS, Kimpen JL, van der HJ, Buitelaar JK, de Graeff-Meeder ER (2005) Children with unexplained chronic pain: substantial impairment in everyday life. Arch Dis Child 90:680–686

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Krause L, Neuhauser H, Hölling H, Ellert U (2017) [Headache, abdominal pain and back pain in German children and adolescents – current prevalence and time trends. Results of the German KiGGS study: first follow-up (KiGGS wave 1)]. Monatsschr Kinderheilkd 165:416–426

    Google Scholar 

  • Laurell K, Larsson B, Eeg-Olofsson O (2004) Prevalence of headache in Swedish schoolchildren, with a focus on tension-type headache. Cephalalgia 24:380–388

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Logan DE, Simons LE, Stein MJ, Chastain L (2008) School impairment in adolescents with chronic pain. J Pain 9:407–416

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luntamo T, Sourander A, Santalahti P, Aromaa M, Helenius H (2012) Prevalence changes of pain, sleep problems and fatigue among 8-year-old children: years 1989, 1999, and 2005. J Pediatr Psychol 37:307–318

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Milde-Busch A, Blaschek A, Heinen F, Borggräfe I, Koerte I, Straube A, Schankin C, von Kries R (2011) Associations between stress and migraine and tension-type headache: results from a school-based study in adolescents from grammar schools in Germany. Cephalalgia 31:774–785

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Noel M, Groenewald CB, Beals-Erickson SE, Gebert JT, Palermo TM (2016) Chronic pain in adolescence and internalizing mental health disorders: a nationally representative study. Pain 157:1333

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Palermo TM (2000) Impact of recurrent and chronic pain on child and family daily functioning: a critical review of the literature. J Dev Behav Pediatr 21:58–69

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Perquin CW, Hazebroek-Kampschreur AA, Hunfeld JAM, Bohnen AM, van Suijlekom-Smit LWA, Passchier J, van der Wouden JC (2000) Pain in children and adolescents: a common experience. Pain 87:51–58

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Petersen S, Hagglof BL, Bergstrom EI (2009) Impaired health-related quality of life in children with recurrent pain. Pediatrics 124:e1–e9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roth-Isigkeit A, Thyen U, Raspe HH, Stöven H, Schmucker P (2004) Reports of pain among German children and adolescents: an epidemiological study. Acta Pediatr 93:258–263

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Roth-Isigkeit A, Thyen U, Stöven H, Schwarzenberger J, Schmucker P (2005) Pain among children and adolescents: restrictions in daily living and triggering factors. Pediatrics 115:e152–e162

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Siu Y-F, Chan S, Wong K-M, Wong W-S (2012) The comorbidity of chronic pain and sleep disturbances in a community adolescent sample: prevalence and association with sociodemographic and psychosocial factors. Pain Med 13:1292–1303

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stahlschmidt L, Barth F, Zernikow B, Wager J (2017) [Therapy outcome one year after pediatric outpatient chronic pain evaluation: Chronic Pain Grading (CPG) for adolescent pain patients]. Schmerz 6:601–609

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Van Dijk A, McGrath PA, Pickett W, Vandenkerkhof EG (2006) Pain prevalence in nine- to 13-year-old schoolchildren. Pain Res Manage 11:234–240

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Tilburg MAL, Spence NJ, Whitehead WE, Bangdiwala S, Goldston DB (2011) Chronic pain in adolescents is associated with suicidal thoughts and behaviors. J Pain 12:10132–11039

    Google Scholar 

  • Wager J, Hechler T, Darlington AS, Hirschfeld G, Vocks S, Zernikow B (2013) Classifying the severity of paediatric chronic pain - an application of the chronic pain grading. Eur J Pain 17:1393–1402

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lorin Stahlschmidt .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Stahlschmidt, L. (2019). Epidemiology of Chronic Pain in Children and Adolescents. In: Dobe, M., Zernikow, B. (eds) Practical Treatment Options for Chronic Pain in Children and Adolescents. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-19201-3_1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-19201-3_1

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-19200-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-19201-3

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics