All 4 faces pain scales were found to be adequately supported by psychometric data .
When given a choice between faces scales , children preferred the WBFPRS .
Confounding of pain intensity with affect caused by use of smiling and crying anchor faces is a disadvantage of the WBFPRS .
: For clinical use , we found no grounds to switch from 1 faces scale to another when 1 of the scales is in use .
CONTEXT : Numerous faces scales have been developed for the measurement of  pain intensity in children .
It remains unclear whether any one of the faces scales is better for a particular purpose with regard to validity , reliability , feasibility , and preference .
OBJECTIVES : To summarize and systematic ally review faces pain scales most commonly used to obtain self-report of pain intensity in children for evaluation of reliability and validity and to compare the scales for preference and utility .
A placebo‐controlled model for assaying systemic analgesics in children
To assess the sore throat pain model in children as an assay for systemic analgesic agents in children under double‐blind , placebo‐controlled conditions , we conducted a single‐dose parallel study that compared 10 mg/kg ibuprofen ( n = 39 ) , a new analgesic agent for children , and 15 mg/kg acetaminophen ( n = 38 ) , an approved analgesic for children , to placebo ( n = 39 ) in children from 2 to 12 years of age with acute sore throat . At ½ , 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , and 6 hours ( 2 hours in the pediatrician 's office followed by 4 hours at home ) , children assessed pain intensity with a pain thermometer and pain relief with a smileyface scale . The parent and pediatrician assessed pain intensity and change in pain ; the parent also provided an overall evaluation at 6 hours . The children rated ibuprofen and acetaminophen as significantly effective compared with placebo ( p < 0.05 ) on both scales at most posttreatment time points and overall . The parent and pediatrician also rated both active medications as significantly different from placebo on both of their scales ( p < 0.05 ) at several time points and overall . On the parent 's overall evaluation , ibuprofen was rated as effective compared with placebo ( p < 0.05 ) . Both active agents significantly ( p < 0.05 ) reduced oral temperature in children with baseline temperatures > 99 ° F. No treatment‐related adverse effects were observed . We conclude that the sore throat pain model is a sensitive assay for identification of the activity of oral analgesic drugs in children and that ibuprofen is an effective analgesic in children
All 4 faces pain scales were found to be adequately supported by psychometric data .
When given a choice between faces scales , children preferred the WBFPRS .
Confounding of pain intensity with affect caused by use of smiling and crying anchor faces is a disadvantage of the WBFPRS .
: For clinical use , we found no grounds to switch from 1 faces scale to another when 1 of the scales is in use .
CONTEXT : Numerous faces scales have been developed for the measurement of  pain intensity in children .
It remains unclear whether any one of the faces scales is better for a particular purpose with regard to validity , reliability , feasibility , and preference .
OBJECTIVES : To summarize and systematic ally review faces pain scales most commonly used to obtain self-report of pain intensity in children for evaluation of reliability and validity and to compare the scales for preference and utility .