Pediatric Pain Conditions

Knowledge is power. A new diagnosis may require some adjustments to help your child thrive. We hope you will find some helpful information about your child’s condition to enable you to best manage symptoms and navigate treatment options.

Links Disclaimer: Links of interest to other websites from the pediatric pain section are provided as a possible resource by TCAPP. By accessing the links from this site, you will be leaving TCAPP’s web site. Although we have reviewed the information on these sites prior to creating the links, we are not responsible for the content of the sites. Information on these website pages may become dated or change without notice, and we do not represent or warrant the information contained on these linked pages as complete or accurate. Please be advised that you will no longer be subject to, or under the protection of, the privacy and security policies of TCAPP’s website. We encourage you to read and evaluate the privacy and security policies on the site you are entering which may be different from those of TCAPP’s.

Behcets

Behcet’s Disease is common in the Middle East, Asia, and Japan. It is rare in the United States. In Middle Eastern and Asian countries, the disease affects more men than women. In the United States, it affects more women than men. Behcet’s Disease tends to develop in people in their 20’s or 30’s, but people of all ages can develop this disease. Behcet’s Disease is an autoimmune disease that results from damage to blood vessels throughout the body, particularly veins. In an autoimmune disease, the immune system attacks and harms the bodies’ own tissues.

The exact cause of Behcet’s Disease is unknown. Most symptoms of the disease are caused by vasculitis (an inflammation of the blood vessels). Inflammation is a characteristic reaction of the body to injury or disease and is marked by four signs: swelling, redness, heat, and pain. Doctors think that an autoimmune reaction may cause the blood vessels to become inflamed, but they do not know what triggers this reaction. Under normal conditions, the immune system protects the body from diseases and infections by killing harmful “foreign” substances, such as germs, that enter the body. In an autoimmune reaction, the immune system mistakenly attacks and harms the body’s own tissues. Behcet’s Disease is not contagious; it is not spread from one person to another. Behcet’s Disease affects each person differently. The four most common symptoms are mouth sores, genital sores, inflammation inside of the eye, and skin problems. Inflammation inside of the eye (uveitis, retinitis, and iritis) occurs in more that half of those with Behcet’s Disease and may cause blurred vision, pain and redness. Other symptoms may include arthritis, blood clots, and inflammation in the central nervous system and digestive organs.”

– American Behcet’s Disease Associaton

Websites

Back to Top


Pediatric Cancer Pain

Websites

Back to Top


Chiari and Syringomyelia

The Chiari malformation (CM) was first identified by Dr. Hans Chiari in 1891. It is an uncommon, complex, neurologic deformity which is present at birth. The brainstem normally sits in a funnel-like cavity just above the spinal cord. The problem occurs when the posterior fossa is not formed properly. Instead of the brainstem sitting in its proper space, the cerebellar tonsils are displaced downward into the funnel, thus causing pressure on this part of the brain and spinal cord.

Websites

Back to Top


Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic pain condition most often affecting one of the limbs (arms, legs, hands, or feet), usually after an injury or trauma to that limb. CRPS is believed to be caused by damage to, or malfunction of, the peripheral and central nervous systems.

Websites

Back to Top


Dysautonomia

Dysautonomia is an umbrella term used to describe various conditions that cause a malfunction of the Autonomic Nervous System. The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) controls most of the essential functions of the body that we do not consciously think about, such as heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, dilation and constriction of the pupils of the eye and temperature control.

Websites

Back to Top


Ehlers Danlos Syndrome

EDS is an inherited condition that affects the connective tissues in the body. Connective tissue is responsible for supporting and structuring the skin, blood vessels, bones and organs.

Websites


Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia pain affects muscles and joints as well as the ligaments, tendons and skin. It is widespread pain, experienced in all four limbs as well as the neck, chest wall and back. It is a syndrome, meaning it is a combination of symptoms including pain and fatigue.

Websites

Back to Top


Gastroparesis

Gastroparesis literally means paralyzed stomach. It is one of the most severe and complicated gastric motility disorders. Approximately 5 million Americans, including children, suffer from gastroparesis. In some instances, it appears for a brief time and goes away on it’s own or improves with treatment. Many cases are refractory and do not respond well to treatment.

Websites

Back to Top


Headaches

Headache is a common reason for pediatric patients to seek medical care. Headaches can result from any of a number of causes, including genetic predisposition, trauma, an intracranial mass, a metabolic or vascular disease, or sinusitis. Recognition that pediatric headaches can result from primary and secondary causes is crucial to their treatment.

Websites

Back to Top


Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a fairly common problem with the way the large intestine works.

Websites

Back to Top


Jackson-Weiss Syndrome

Jackson-Weiss syndrome is a genetic disorder characterized by foot abnormalities and the premature fusion of certain skull bones (craniosynostosis). This early fusion prevents the skull from growing normally and affects the shape of the head and face.

Many of the characteristic facial features of Jackson-Weiss syndrome result from premature fusion of the skull bones. Abnormal growth of these bones leads to a misshapen skull, widely spaced eyes, and a bulging forehead.

Foot abnormalities are the most consistent features of Jackson-Weiss syndrome. The first (big) toes are short and wide, and they bend away from the other toes. Additionally, the bones of some toes may be fused together (syndactyly) or abnormally shaped. The hands are almost always normal.

People with Jackson-Weiss syndrome usually have normal intelligence and a normal life span.

Websites

Back to Top


Juvenile Arthritis and Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis

Websites

Back to Top


Loeys Dietz Syndrome

Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS) is a genetic disorder that affects the connective tissue in the body. Individuals with LDS exhibit a variety of medical features in the cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, skin and gastrointestinal systems. LDS manifests itself in a number of ways; therefore, no two persons with LDS will have identical medical characteristics.

Websites

Back to Top


Marfan Syndrome

The signs and symptoms of Marfan syndrome vary greatly, even among members of the same family. Some people experience only mild effects, but others develop life-threatening complications. In most cases, the disease tends to worsen with age.

Websites

Back to Top


Mast Cell Activation Disorder

Systemic mastocytosis (mas-to-sy-TOE-sis) is a disorder caused by a genetic mutation that results in an excessive number of mast cells in your body. Mast cells normally help protect you from disease and aid in wound healing by releasing substances such as histamine and leukotrienes. But if you have systemic mastocytosis, excess mast cells can build up in your skin, around blood vessels, in your respiratory, gastrointestinal and urinary tracts, or in reproductive organs. When triggered, these mast cells release substances that can overwhelm your body and result in symptoms such as facial flushing, itching, a rapid heartbeat, abdominal cramps, lightheadedness or even loss of consciousness. Common triggers include alcohol, temperature changes, spicy foods and certain medications.

Websites

Back to Top


Mitochondrial Disease

Mitochondrial diseases result from failures of the mitochondria, specialized compartments present in every cell of the body except red blood cells. Mitochondria are responsible for creating more than 90% of the energy needed by the body to sustain life and support growth.

Websites

Back to Top


Pfeiffer Syndrome

Pfeiffer syndrome is a rare genetic disorder characterized by premature fusion of certain skull bones (craniosynostosis), and abnormally broad and medially deviated thumbs and great toes. Most affected individuals also have an abnormal midface, with protruding eyes and conductive hearing loss. Three forms of Pfeiffer syndrome are recognized, of which types II and III are the more serious.

Websites

Back to Top


Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) is a form of dysautonomia. POTS is a subset of orthostatic intolerance that is associated with the presence of excessive tachycardia on standing. The current diagnostic criteria for POTS is a heart rate increase of 30 beats per minute (bpm) or more, or over 120 bpm, within the first 10 minutes of standing.

Websites

Back to Top


Resources for Multiple Conditions

Websites

Back to Top