Pain Relief in Children
Pain relief for children is usually accomplished with the use of medications to provide relief from symptoms of pain. Pain medications are generally safe when parents follow pediatrician guidelines for dosage amounts. Analgesics are the most common forms of pain medication used to provide pain relief for children and cause few side effects when used for short-term pain relief.
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Types of Pain Medication
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Analgesics are medications that are commonly used to block pain in children. Analgesics stop pain signals from traveling to the brain and/or alter the brain's interpretation of the pain signals. There are two primary types of analgesics used to provide pain relief for children. Non-narcotic analgesics, also known as non-opioids, are mild forms of analgesics that also include acetaminophen. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin and ibuprofen are also considered analgesics in practice but are not technically part of the analgesic family. Narcotic analgesics, also known as opioids, are stronger forms of analgesics and are used for pain relief in children when pain signals are too severe for treatment with non-narcotic analgesics. Examples of narcotic analgesics include codeine and morphine.
Aspirin is a popular analgesic that should never be used for pain relief in children. Aspirin is a powerful and effective pain reliever derived from salicylate, a naturally occurring substance found in the bark of common willow trees. Aspirin can be dangerous when used to treat pain in children and can also cause Reye's syndrome, a serious, potentially fatal condition that affects the organs of a child's body. Children who have a viral infection such as chicken pox or the flu are at higher risk of developing Reye's syndrome when using aspirin. Symptoms of Reye's syndrome include behavioral changes, lethargy and weakness, and/or persistent vomiting. Doctors recommend that anyone under the age of 21 should not take aspirin pain relievers to prevent developing Reye's syndrome.
Side Effects
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Children should take pain medications with food and/or meals to prevent a common side effect of an upset stomach. Children may also experience side effects such as dizziness, light-headedness, drowsiness, nausea and vomiting, constipation and dry mouth when taking pain medications. Parents should consult their pediatrician for guidance with long-term pain-relief treatment in children. Long-term use of acetaminophen and ibuprofen can result in liver damage. Long-term use of ibuprofen may also lead to gastrointestinal bleeding, indigestion and/or reduced kidney blood flow. To prevent possible overdosing, parents should check all medication ingredients for possible pain-relief medications.
Questions for your Pediatrician
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If you are uncertain about how to treat your child for pain, create a list of questions to discuss possible pain-relief options. Issues to consider for discussion may include how to distinguish if your child's pain requires drug treatment, which pain relievers are best for your child's needs, which medications are best for pain treatment, what medical conditions might prevent your child from using certain types of pain medications, side effects possible for each type of pain medication and alternate plans for treating pain symptoms if medications are not successful. You will also want to discuss the amount of time your child will need to take pain medications as well as dosage requirements. Quiz your pediatrician for overdose symptoms to prevent fatal situations when treating your child with pain medications.
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