Neuropathic pain in children

Abstract

Lesions or disease of the somatosensory nervous system can produce neuropathic pain (NP). Typical features include spontaneous or paroxysmal pain, often described as burning, shooting, like electric shocks, or pins and needles. NP does occur in childhood, but age at the time of injury may influence the risk of NP following traumatic nerve injuries. Whilst conditions commonly associated with NP in adults may be less common in childhood (e.g., trigeminal neuralgia), other conditions (e.g., Fabry’s disease and erythromelalgia), may present with pain in childhood and present a diagnostic challenge for paediatric practitioners.

Amygdalar Functional Connectivity Differences Associated With Reduced Pain Intensity in Pediatric Peripheral Neuropathic Pain

“…Common causes of NeuP in children include lesion (e.g., trauma, surgery, chemotherapy) or disease (e.g., genetic, neurological) of the somatosensory nervous system (18). Typical features include specific descriptors of pain (e.g., burning/hot, electric shocks/shooting, pricking/pins and needles) and symptoms of allodynia, dysaesthesia, or sensory loss, and a biopsychosocial approach is required for management (18,19).…”