Acute pain: How to assess in teens

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​Find out how to recognize the signs of acute pain at home and how your teen's pain is assessed in medical settings.

Key points

  • Common causes of acute pain in teens include dental or orthodontic treatments, sports injuries, menstruation and complex health conditions.
  • Teens are usually well able to self-report their pain, but other signs of pain include swift mood changes, difficulty moving and withdrawal from social activities.
  • In medical settings, health-care professionals will assess your teen's pain based mostly on your teen's self-report and may use pain scales to help your teen pinpoint the severity of their pain.
  • Encourage and support your teen to express their pain to health-care providers confidently and precisely so they can receive the most appropriate treatment.
Last updated: M01 25th 2019