Aches & Pains

Symptoms

Symptoms of aches and pains can vary depending on the age of your child. Crying is usually a good indicator. However, in nearly all children there are more subtle signs that may indicate pain, including restlessness, change of heart rate, irritability and lack of appetite. The sex of your child may also play a part in how your child expresses the pain experience. Researchers have found that girls are more likely to be fearful and anxious when in pain, while boys tend to be angry. Here is a quick age-appropriate guide that outlines other symptoms of pain:

• Infants to 1 month old - Children at this age will sometimes moan, roll their eyes, gag, hiccup or hold their breath when in pain.
• 1 month to 2 years old - Violent behaviour such as biting, hitting or temper tantrums can be a sign of pain. If a particular area is sore, the child may pull at, rub or guard it.
• Children 2 to 5 years old - Children in this age group are still developing their communication skills. Children 2 to 5 years of age can tell us that they are in pain, but usually can't express how much pain they are feeling. To assess how much pain young children are in, you can present them with a set of buttons or poker chips, and ask them to pick out how many pieces of hurt they feel.
• Children 6 to 14 years old - Children in this age group should be able to communicate where the pain is. Six and seven year-olds should be able to say whether they are in "no pain," "a little pain," "a large amount of pain". They can even rate their pain on a scale of zero to 10. However, older kids may put on a "brave face" rather than admit that they are in pain. Watch for unnecessary silence or a withdrawn attitude.