Untreated pain can cause anxiety , irritability, depression , and exhaustion can slow healing.
Children as young as three years old can identify the intensity of their pain. Fetuses and premature infants can feel pain. Most pain caused by medical procedures can be reduced. Giving children choices during medical procedures, such as which finger to stick with a needle or whether they want to sit on the examining table or on a parent's lap for a shot, can help ease anxiety and pain. The best way to measure pain is to ask children how much they hurt.