(401) Visualising and Treating Pain in Children

Abstract

Background: Pain is one of the most under diagnosed, under treated medical problems, particularly in children.1,2 Ten percent of hospitalized children show features of chronic pain.2 Chronic pain conservative estimates 20% to 35% of children and adolescents affected worldwide.2 Pain costs has been extrapolated to $19.5 billion USA annually.2, 3 Problem: Current diagnostic methods rely on self-reports and caregivers perception. Young children can be challenging if they are non-verbal or have developmental disabilities and depends on his or her intellectual and social development.4 Emergency primary care physicians report a need for pain assessment procedures in children and youth. 5 Results: The law of pain; the origin of all pain is inflammation and the inflammatory response.6 Using four FDA approved devices combined can augment clinical palpation. Data comparisons are made between a painful and non-painful point, a display shows differential amounts: Pain Pressure Thresholds Tolerances “PPT's”, Temperature, Sympathetic Skin Response and Tissue Sounds.7 When inflammation is gone, treatment outcomes software shows no more difference between comparison points. Gamification will enhance patient engagement improving outcomes.8 Sensors can be worn, air cells apply intermittent pneumatic compression massage therapy, squeezes edema to regions with normal lymphatic drainage.9 Disease detection once relied on physician's palpation skills to evaluate the soft tissues for signs of inflammation heat (calor), pain (dolor), redness (rubor), and swelling (tumor), fluor (secretion). Biosensors could supplement palpation for musculoskeletal pain, the most common single type of chronic pain; chronic low back pain is the most prevalent. 10 Conclusion: If pain were assessed with the same zeal as other vital signs are, it would have a much better chance of being treated properly. We need to train doctors and nurses to treat pain as a vital sign. 11 JCAHO regulations regard pain as “the fifth vital sign”, this approach provides Based Medicine/Practices (EBM/EBP).