Chronic Pediatric Pain in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

• Published in: Children (Basel) Vol. 5; no. 9; p. 113
• Main Authors: Walters, Camila B, Kynes, J Matthew, Sobey, Jenna, Chimhundu-Sithole, Tsitsi, McQueen, K A Kelly
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI 27.08.2018; MDPI AG
• Subjects: chronic pediatric pain; low income country; low- and middle-income country; middle-income country; pediatric palliative care; Review; low- and middle-income country; middle-income country; chronic pediatric pain; low income country; pediatric palliative care
• ISSN: 2227-9067; 2227-9067
• DOI: 10.3390/children5090113

Chronic pain is a serious health concern and potentially debilitating condition, leading to anxiety, depression, reduced productivity and functionality, and poor quality of life. This condition can be even more detrimental and incapacitating in the pediatric patient population. In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), pain services are often inadequate or unavailable, leaving most of the world's pediatric population with chronic pain untreated. Many of these children in LMICs are suffering without treatment, and often die in pain. Awareness and advocacy for this population must be prioritized. We reviewed the available literature on the chronic pediatric pain burden in LMICs, barriers to treatments, and current efforts to treat these patients.