Dr. Hockenberry-Eaton says misconceptions about pain in children continue to keep them from getting adequate amounts of medication. Studies have shown that a newborn can experience pain. Children easily become addicted to narcotics. There is no greater risk of addiction in children than in adults when medication is appropriately administered. Children tolerate pain better than adults do.
Younger children experience higher levels of pain during procedures than older children do.
Children are unable to tell you where they hurt. Though they might not express themselves in the same way as adults, children can identify pain. Children become accustomed to pain or painful procedures. Children exposed to repeated painful procedures often have increased anxiety and perception of pain with each procedure. The content of the website was developed by Dr. Hockenberry-Eaton and four other authors, and was reviewed by 15 advisors.