This article contains information on how to care for your child at home when he feels pain. The pain may be due to an interruption relative to minor fall, a sprain, a sore throat, an earache, or intervention in hospital as repositioning a broken bone and laying a plaster.

Parents are the ones who can make the best decisions to ease the pain of their child, because it is they who know best. What you need to know about your child’s pain;

– All children do not feel pain the same way.

– In the days following a painful event the pain should get better, not worse.

– The drugs against pain will help your child feel less pain.

– Comfort your child will help him relax and relieve his pain.

– Distracting your child can relieve pain.

Pain assessment: how to tell if your child is in pain

Sometimes your child will tell you if it hurts. It could use words like evil, hurt, sore or ouch. Your child could point the painful area or protect it. If he does not complain of pain, you can ask your child how he hurt.

If your child is older, you can use the scale from 0 to 10 for his pain level. Ask your child to assess his pain on a scale of 0 to 10. 0 means no pain and 10 the worst pain imaginable. Mild pain is 0 to 3, an average pain from 4 to 6 and a strong pain, more than 7. You can also use a pain scale with words, by asking your child if he has a low, medium or much evil.

Some children do not talk about their pain

Your child may not be able to talk or you describe his pain. Watch it carefully and judge for yourself. Parents often know if their child is in pain or not. Your child may frown, or give kicks in the air. Creaks he teeth? Back there the legs to the stomach? If he moans or cries more than usual, or is stiff, it may be that your child is evil. A child who is ill may also be stationary and not want to move or do things he would normally like to play, watch TV or eat.

Pain management: ease the pain of the child at home with drugs

Do not wait before giving the medicines

The drugs work best if you do not wait until your child is very ill before giving the medicine. If you wait, the pain may take longer to disappear. The amount of medicine to give depends on the age and weight of the child. If you left the hospital with a prescription for pain medication, follow the instructions you have given the doctor and the pharmacist. Ask about possible side effects. These are problems caused by the drug itself. Discuss the side effects with the doctor, nurse or pharmacist. There are different types of drugs against pain. Examples:

Acetaminophen

Common trade names of acetaminophen are Tylenol or Tempra. These are three different names for the same medication. If your child has mild pain, you can give your child acetaminophen every four hours. Acetaminophen is a safe medicine for your child. It has no significant side effects if you are administering according to the instructions on the box or container.

Ibuprofen

Advil and Motrin are common brand names for ibuprofen. These are three different names for the same medication. Ask your doctor if you can give Advil to your child. The combination of ibuprofen and acetaminophen is sometimes beneficial.

Other drugs that suppresses pain

The nurse, the nurse advanced practice or doctor may suggest or prescribe other drugs against pain. Be sure to ask how and when to use these other medicines. The nurse, the nurse or advanced practice doctor might tell you that you can use the other drugs alone, or in combination with acetaminophen. One might prescribe opioids (powerful drugs against pain) for moderate to severe pain. Opioids are drugs like morphine, oxycodone and hydropmorphone. Follow the advice of the order to the letter. If you have questions, contact your doctor or pharmacist your child.

Topical anesthetic (cream)

Sometimes you will know in advance that your child will undergo a painful procedure such as an injection for a vaccine. There are some things you can do to relieve pain, such as using an anesthetic cream that numbs the skin, such as EMLA, Maxilene or Ametop. Follow the package directions.

Reduce pain without drugs

There are two ways to relieve pain without medication or physical methods and psychological distractions.

Physical methods to reduce pain

Comfort your child in the way that works best for him;

Compresses of ice: it is the best choice in the presence of swelling. Limit use to 15 minutes every hour.

Heat: This is the best choice in the absence of swelling, and three days after an acute injury. Limit use to 20 minutes every hour. The heat source must be lukewarm than hot, to avoid the risk of burns.

– Holding, shake, rock or caress the child.

– Rub or massage the painful area.

– Place a pillow under the painful area.

– Get up from bed and move and change position, can be beneficial.

Psychological distractions to reduce pain: This is to distract your child’s pain. Some children are distracted by:

– TV, movies, DVD or computer;

– by stories.

– the fact of bubble.

– playing with your child.

– Get your kid to play with his favorite toy.

Pain assessment

– After you have tried to ease the pain of your child, it is important to check if the pain has decreased. Here’s how you can check:

– Check your child’s pain an hour after he has taken the drug against pain.

– Ask your child to quantify pain on the scale of 0 to 10, or in terms of “a little, medium, much”, or watch it carefully.

– If your child is not well, call your family doctor.

– Remember to comfort your child and try to distract him from the pain.

– If the combination of drugs against pain, physical comfort and psychological distraction do not help reduce pain or if the pain gets worse, call your doctor.

Note that;

• You can know the level of your child’s pain by asking and observing its behavior.
• You can reduce your child’s pain with medication. Always follow the directions that you have data nurse, doctor or pharmacist. You can also reduce pain by physical and behavioral methods.
• Children do not all feel pain the same way.