The Burden of Pediatric Pain: Triggers,Impact on Daily Life and Health Care Utilization—A Cohort Study

Abstract

Pain has an important impact on children’s life, leading frequently to health care seeking. Using data from the Generation XXI cohort at 10 years, we aimed to characterize pain experience, health care use, and medical diagnoses according to children and parent reports. Of the 3725 children reporting pain, 26.7% had a parent-reported impact on at least one of their daily activities. An impact on daily activities was more likely in children with more frequent, more intense, multisite, and longer-lasting pain and also medication use. Among children with pain, 17.0% sought health care and 12.5% obtained a medical diagnosis as a result, more frequently boys. The most frequent diagnosis categories were musculoskeletal, gastroenterological, and psychological. Health care use was associated with higher pain frequency, duration, and use of medications. Despite the higher prevalence of pain among girls, we highlight a similar impact in both sexes. Most pediatric pain is managed without resorting to health care.