The Detection and Therapy of Pain in Children and Adolescents with Life-Threatening Neuropediatric Disorder

Pain is common in patients with life-threatening neuropediatric disorder and severely affects the quality of life of patients and families. The assessment of pain symptoms and the extensive differential diagnosis of the possible causes are difficult, especially in patients with limited communication possibilities. For pain therapy the distinction of the pain mechanism (nociceptive versus neuropathic) is important. In this overview we present the pain causes in children and adolescents with life-threatening neuropediatric disorder and the therapy depending on the pain mechanism. The treatment by analgesics is supplemented by myotonolytics, adjuvants, physiotherapy, psychotherapy and orthopedic surgery. We describe therapy control by means of special pain parameters and individualized pain scales. An adequate therapy and monitoring of children and adolescents with life-threatening neuropediatric disorder and chronic pain is complex and requires a multimodal approach and an experienced interdisciplinary team.