Making Persistent Pain for Pediatric Patients the Past and Improving Future Function

Abstract

Persistent pain in children and adolescents, defined as pain that persists or recurs for more than 3 months, should be a significant concern for our society. The prevalence of pediatric persistent pain is estimated to have risen to 20-35% in recent years. Children and teens with persistent pain have a multitude of adverse outcomes, including physical and mental health problems as well as difficulty in functioning, including school challenges that can drastically impact their future. It is suggested that treating persistent pain in pediatrics should be tailored to addressing the neurobiological, intrapersonal, and interpersonal factors of the child impacting their pain.