PAIN IN THE HOSPITALIZED CHILD

Pain is present in many hospitalized children and this requires from e very physician a constant attention to its recognition, evaluation and treatment. The semeiology of pain differs whether it is acute or chro nic. Acute pain can be recognized from its various behavioural, motor and neurovegetative manifestations. Pain evaluation must be adapted ac cording to age: autoevaluation procedures for children older than 5 ye ars, behavioural scales for children younger than 5 years. One must kn ow that there is an appropriate and efficient treatment for each stage of pain intensity. For a better recognition and management of pain in hospitalized children, the organization of teams specialized in the e valuation and treatment of pain in children is to be encouraged.