The Clinical journal of pain
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The objective of this study was to estimate the national burden of school absenteeism associated with pain among 6 to 17-year-old children in the United States. ⋯ Associations between pain and school absenteeism highlight the need for interventions aimed at improving school attendance among children with pain.
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Neuraxial-spinal and epidural-administration of opioids can be an effective method for controlling pain for children in a number of clinical settings. Understanding the basic pharmacologic and logistical concepts will make it easier for pediatricians to advocate for their patients, and support patients and families when circumstances suggest that neuraxial opioid treatment is appropriate. This review article summarizes the basic concepts of pharmacology, drug choice, side effects, and complications as well as situations in which neuraxial opioids are appropriate in children.
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Children represent a patient demographic composed of multiple, unique subpopulations differentiated by rapidly changing age-related physiology, which includes the means of metabolizing opioids. Opioids are an important part of the pharmacological treatment of both acute and chronic pain. In both clinical medicine and clinical research, it is necessary to understand the differences in drug handling by age cohort in order to appropriately dose children to effect, and to avoid exacerbating deleterious adverse events with potentially grave sequelae. ⋯ Understanding how these variables change the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of each opioid is critical to the successful and safe management of pain in children.
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Interacting with socially assistive robots (SAR) has been shown to influence human behaviors and emotions. This study sought to review the literature on SAR intervention for reducing pediatric distress and pain in medical settings. ⋯ There is limited evidence suggesting that SAR interventions may reduce distress and no clear evidence showing reduction in pain for children in medical settings. Engineers are conducting interventions using SAR in pediatric populations. Health care providers should be engaged in technology research related to children to facilitate testing and improve the effectiveness of these systems.