PEDIATRICS Vol. 98 No. 3 September 1996, pp. 449-452
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Hirschfeld, S.
Right arrow Articles by Pizzo, P. A.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Hirschfeld, S.
Right arrow Articles by Pizzo, P. A.

Pain in Pediatric Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection: Incidence and Characteristics in a Single-institution Pilot Study

Steven Hirschfeld MD, PhD1, Howard Moss PhD1, Katherine Dragisic 1, Wendy Smith PhD2, and Philip A. Pizzo MD1

1 Pediatric Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
2 Pain Service, National Institute of Dental Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland

Objective. Children with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection have multiple complications associated with the disease process. Many of these complications are potentially painful and could affect the patient's quality of life. We examined the incidence and characteristics of the perception of pain in a cohort of families with children with HIV infection.

Methodology. A questionnaire was developed and validated with a cohort of families with children with cancer. In a survey of families at the Pediatric Branch of the National Cancer Institute, 61 children with HIV infection and their care givers, along with 19 children with cancer and their care givers, were interviewed to determine the incidence and impact of pain.

Results. Fifty-nine percent of the HIV-infected children and 55% of their care givers described pain as a component of their illness that impacted on their lives. Younger children and girls tended to report more pain. There was also a tendency for biological parents to expect and to treat more pain than foster parents, although there was no difference in the incidence of pain that biological and foster parents reported for their children. No differences were found between parents who were HIV posifive and those who were not. In addition, no correlations were noted in incidence, expectation, or impact of pain with disease progression or surrogate markers such as CD4 counts. Pain in HIV-infected patients tended to be either in the gastrointestinal tract or limbs and usually responded to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory therapy. The patients with cancer reported an incidence (47%) and impact of pain similar to those of previously reported studies on pediatric patients with cancer.

Conclusion. Pain is common among children infected with HIV and can adversely impact on their lives, and its management should be a component of the general care of these patients.

Submitted on December 13, 1995
Accepted on May 6, 1996




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J Pediatr PsycholHome page
W. B. Schiff, K. D. Holtz, N. Peterson, and T. Rakusan
Effect of an Intervention to Reduce Procedural Pain and Distress for Children With HIV Infection
J. Pediatr. Psychol., October 1, 2001; 26(7): 417 - 427.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
S. A. Missmer, D. Spiegelman, S. L. Gorbach, and T. L. Miller
Predictors of Change in the Functional Status of Children With Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection
Pediatrics, August 1, 2000; 106(2): 24e - 24.
[Abstract] [Full Text]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
Antiretroviral Therapy and Medical Management of Pediatric HIV Infection
Pediatrics, October 1, 1998; 102(4): 1005 - 1062.
[Full Text]