Skip to main content
NCBI home page
The British Journal of Cancer. Supplement logoLink to The British Journal of Cancer. Supplement
. 1992 Aug;18:S84–S91.

The evaluation and management of pain in the infant and young child with cancer.

D Berman 1, A M Duncan 1, L K Zeltzer 1
PMCID: PMC2149649  PMID: 1503933

Abstract

In the last decade, there has been a developing awareness of pain in paediatric patients and especially in young patients who may be unable to express their pain. This paper addresses the issue of pain in the infant and young child with cancer. Current understanding of pain and its physiological consequences are explored. Evaluation of pain within a developmental context is outlined. Guidelines are presented for the behavioural and pharmacological management of pain with emphasis on appropriate therapy for the infant and young child.

Full text

PDF
S84

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Anand K. J., Sippell W. G., Schofield N. M., Aynsley-Green A. Does halothane anaesthesia decrease the metabolic and endocrine stress responses of newborn infants undergoing operation? Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1988 Mar 5;296(6623):668–672. doi: 10.1136/bmj.296.6623.668. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Berde C. B. Regional analgesia in the management of chronic pain in childhood. J Pain Symptom Manage. 1989 Dec;4(4):232–237. doi: 10.1016/0885-3924(89)90047-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Berde C., Ablin A., Glazer J., Miser A., Shapiro B., Weisman S., Zeltzer P. American Academy of Pediatrics Report of the Subcommittee on Disease-Related Pain in Childhood Cancer. Pediatrics. 1990 Nov;86(5 Pt 2):818–825. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Beyer J. E., Aradine C. R. Content validity of an instrument to measure young children's perceptions of the intensity of their pain. J Pediatr Nurs. 1986 Dec;1(6):386–395. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Blumenfeld T. A., Turi G. K., Blanc W. A. Recommended site and depth of newborn heel skin punctures based on anatomical measurements and histopathology. Lancet. 1979 Feb 3;1(8110):230–233. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(79)90765-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Botney M., Fields H. L. Amitriptyline potentiates morphine analgesia by a direct action on the central nervous system. Ann Neurol. 1983 Feb;13(2):160–164. doi: 10.1002/ana.410130209. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Brewster A. B. Chronically ill hospitalized children's concepts of their illness. Pediatrics. 1982 Mar;69(3):355–362. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Craig K. D., McMahon R. J., Morison J. D., Zaskow C. Developmental changes in infant pain expression during immunization injections. Soc Sci Med. 1984;19(12):1331–1337. doi: 10.1016/0277-9536(84)90021-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Dahlström B., Bolme P., Feychting H., Noack G., Paalzow L. Morphine kinetics in children. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1979 Sep;26(3):354–365. doi: 10.1002/cpt1979263354. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Elser J. M., Woody R. C. Migraine headache in the infant and young child. Headache. 1990 May;30(6):366–368. doi: 10.1111/j.1526-4610.1990.hed3006366.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Franck L. S. A new method to quantitatively describe pain behavior in infants. Nurs Res. 1986 Jan-Feb;35(1):28–31. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Frankenburg W. K., Dodds J. B. The Denver developmental screening test. J Pediatr. 1967 Aug;71(2):181–191. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(67)80070-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Gauvain-Piquard A., Rodary C., Rezvani A., Lemerle J. Pain in children aged 2-6 years: a new observational rating scale elaborated in a pediatric oncology unit--preliminary report. Pain. 1987 Nov;31(2):177–188. doi: 10.1016/0304-3959(87)90034-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Grunau R. V., Craig K. D. Pain expression in neonates: facial action and cry. Pain. 1987 Mar;28(3):395–410. doi: 10.1016/0304-3959(87)90073-X. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Harpin V. A., Rutter N. Development of emotional sweating in the newborn infant. Arch Dis Child. 1982 Sep;57(9):691–695. doi: 10.1136/adc.57.9.691. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Harpin V. A., Rutter N. Making heel pricks less painful. Arch Dis Child. 1983 Mar;58(3):226–228. doi: 10.1136/adc.58.3.226. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Hertzka R. E., Gauntlett I. S., Fisher D. M., Spellman M. J. Fentanyl-induced ventilatory depression: effects of age. Anesthesiology. 1989 Feb;70(2):213–218. doi: 10.1097/00000542-198902000-00006. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Johnston C. C., Strada M. E. Acute pain response in infants: a multidimensional description. Pain. 1986 Mar;24(3):373–382. doi: 10.1016/0304-3959(86)90123-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Katz E. R., Kellerman J., Siegel S. E. Behavioral distress in children with cancer undergoing medical procedures: developmental considerations. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1980 Jun;48(3):356–365. doi: 10.1037//0022-006x.48.3.356. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Kister M. C., Patterson C. J. Children's conceptions of the causes of illness: understanding of contagion and use of immanent justice. Child Dev. 1980 Sep;51(3):839–846. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Lavigne J. V., Schulein M. J., Hahn Y. S. Psychological aspects of painful medical conditions in children. I. Developmental aspects and assessment. Pain. 1986 Nov;27(2):133–146. doi: 10.1016/0304-3959(86)90206-X. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. LeBaron S., Zeltzer L. Assessment of acute pain and anxiety in children and adolescents by self-reports, observer reports, and a behavior checklist. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1984 Oct;52(5):729–738. doi: 10.1037//0022-006x.52.5.729. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Lozoff B., Brittenham G. M., Trause M. A., Kennell J. H., Klaus M. H. The mother-newborn relationship: limits of adaptability. J Pediatr. 1977 Jul;91(1):1–12. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(77)80433-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Lynn A. M., Slattery J. T. Morphine pharmacokinetics in early infancy. Anesthesiology. 1987 Feb;66(2):136–139. doi: 10.1097/00000542-198702000-00005. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Mather L., Mackie J. The incidence of postoperative pain in children. Pain. 1983 Mar;15(3):271–282. doi: 10.1016/0304-3959(83)90062-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Meltzoff A. N., Moore M. K. Imitation of facial and manual gestures by human neonates. Science. 1977 Oct 7;198(4312):75–78. doi: 10.1126/science.198.4312.75. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Miser A. W., Dothage J. A., Wesley R. A., Miser J. S. The prevalence of pain in a pediatric and young adult cancer population. Pain. 1987 Apr;29(1):73–83. doi: 10.1016/0304-3959(87)90180-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Miser A. W., Dothage J. A., Wesley R. A., Miser J. S. The prevalence of pain in a pediatric and young adult cancer population. Pain. 1987 Apr;29(1):73–83. doi: 10.1016/0304-3959(87)90180-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Miser A. W., Miser J. S. The treatment of cancer pain in children. Pediatr Clin North Am. 1989 Aug;36(4):979–999. doi: 10.1016/s0031-3955(16)36732-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Owens M. E., Todt E. H. Pain in infancy: neonatal reaction to a heel lance. Pain. 1984 Sep;20(1):77–86. doi: 10.1016/0304-3959(84)90813-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Portenoy R. K. Chronic opioid therapy in nonmalignant pain. J Pain Symptom Manage. 1990 Feb;5(1 Suppl):S46–S62. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Porter F. L., Miller R. H., Marshall R. E. Neonatal pain cries: effect of circumcision on acoustic features and perceived urgency. Child Dev. 1986 Jun;57(3):790–802. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Porter F. Pain in the newborn. Clin Perinatol. 1989 Jun;16(2):549–564. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Ross D. M., Ross S. A. The importance of type of question, psychological climate and subject set in interviewing children about pain. Pain. 1984 May;19(1):71–79. doi: 10.1016/0304-3959(84)90066-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Stang H. J., Gunnar M. R., Snellman L., Condon L. M., Kestenbaum R. Local anesthesia for neonatal circumcision. Effects on distress and cortisol response. JAMA. 1988 Mar 11;259(10):1507–1511. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Talbert L. M., Kraybill E. N., Potter H. D. Adrenal cortical response to circumcision in the neonate. Obstet Gynecol. 1976 Aug;48(2):208–210. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  37. Varner P. D., Ebert J. P., McKay R. D., Nail C. S., Whitlock T. M. Methohexital sedation of children undergoing CT scan. Anesth Analg. 1985 Jun;64(6):643–645. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  38. WAY W. L., COSTLEY E. C., LEONGWAY E. RESPIRATORY SENSITIVITY OF THE NEWBORN INFANT TO MEPERIDINE AND MORPHINE. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1965 Jul-Aug;6:454–461. doi: 10.1002/cpt196564454. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  39. Williamson P. S., Williamson M. L. Physiologic stress reduction by a local anesthetic during newborn circumcision. Pediatrics. 1983 Jan;71(1):36–40. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  40. Zeltzer L. K., Zeltzer P. M. Clinical assessment and pharmacologic treatment of pain in children: cancer as a model for the management of chronic or persistent pain. Pediatrician. 1989;16(1-2):64–70. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from The British Journal of Cancer. Supplement are provided here courtesy of Cancer Research UK

RESOURCES