When Children Feel Pain: From Everyday Aches to Chronic Conditions

Children’s pain is too often “dismissed, minimized, and flat-out ignored,” according to this alarming and accessible look at pediatric pain management from journalist Peachman and pediatric psychologist Wilson. They debunk myths that have led to the neglect of infant pain, such as that very young children cannot feel pain, that anesthesia is too dangerous for infants, and that early pain has no lasting impact. Even today, they write, medical students receive “only a handful of education hours devoted to pain management” in their training. Peachman and Wilson address vaccinations and NICU practices—two common medical situations in which children suffer—and offer practical approaches for improving children’s experiences: distractions (such as a cloth or pacifier dipped in sugar water) and skin-to-skin contact can “influence how the brain interprets the pain signals it receives.” Peachman and Wilson make a solid case that the longer pain goes unnoticed, the more likely it is to become chronic, and their message that addressing pain beginning in childhood is not only an obligate kindness but essential for managing long-term health is a powerful one. This is worth a look for medical professionals and parents alike. (Aug.)