Title : Pain management in children: Current concepts and clinical

Background: Pain in children is a common yet frequently undertreated clinical problem that can result in significant physiological, psychological, and emotional consequences. Inadequate pain control may lead to delayed recovery, prolonged hospitalization, increased anxiety, and long-term behavioral disturbances. Recent advances in pediatric pain medicine emphasize the importance of systematic pain assessment, multimodal analgesia, and integration of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions to improve outcomes in hospitalized children.

Objectives: To evaluate pain assessment practices among hospitalized pediatric patients and to assess the effectiveness of pharmacological and non-pharmacological pain management strategies in reducing pain scores among children admitted to a tertiary care teaching hospital.

Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted among 150 hospitalized children aged 1 month to 14 years admitted to the pediatric wards of NC Medical College Hospital, Israna, Panipat. Pain was assessed using age-appropriate validated scales including FLACC Scale, Wong-Baker Faces Pain Scale, and Numeric Rating Scale. Demographic details, diagnosis, analgesic use, non-pharmacological interventions, and pain scores before and after treatment were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS Version 26. Continuous variables were expressed as mean ± standard deviation, while categorical variables were presented as frequency and percentage. Paired t-test and Chi-square test were applied, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant.

Results: Among the 150 enrolled children, 60% were males and 40% females, with a mean age of 6.4 ± 3.2 years. Acute infections constituted the most common cause of pain (28%). The mean pain score significantly decreased from 6.8 ± 1.5 before intervention to 2.7 ± 1.3 after intervention (p < 0.001). Combined pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions demonstrated superior pain reduction compared to pharmacological treatment alone.

Conclusion: Multimodal pain management significantly improves pain outcomes in hospitalized children. Routine implementation of standardized pain assessment tools, family-centered care, and integration of behavioral strategies with pharmacological therapy are essential for effective pediatric pain management and improved quality of care.

To be updated shortly..