Burns

Pain Management and Itching

Pain management and burn care:

Most children with burns have pain. The amount of pain depends on the severity and location of the burn. Severe pain can make your child's stay in the hospital very scary. Your child will be given pain medication through an intravenous (IV) line or by mouth before wound care and as needed. Many parents worry that their child may become addicted to pain medication. This is very rare, because children are given such small amounts of pain medication for short time periods. If you have more questions about pain medication, please ask your child's nurse or physician.

If old enough, your child can help control the pain by rating it with a scoring tool. This will help the healthcare team know when and how much pain medication to give so that your child can be more comfortable. The nurses and child life therapist can help your child control the pain. The nurse and child life therapist can help you find ways to comfort and distract your child to decrease his/her anxiety.

Itching and burn care:

Most children who have suffered from a burn injury usually experience itching at some point during the healing process. Sometimes, it begins right away, but it may also occur several weeks or months into the healing process. Itching can range from a minor irritation to severe discomfort that can interfere with daily activities. While there is no "cure" for itching, the condition diminishes over time. In the meantime, there are things that you can do for your child to lessen his/her discomfort:

• Keep the area moist with creams. Try to avoid lotions, as they may contain alcohol, which can dry the skin.
  
  
• Avoid creams that contain perfumes, which may cause more irritation to the area.
  
  
• Topical corticosteroids (such as hydrocortisone) may be recommended by your child's physician.
  
  
• Hemorrhoidal creams contain local anesthetics that are safe to use on the skin.
  
  
• Cool or cold compresses may help provide relief.
  
  
• There are other medications that your child's physician may prescribe such as antihistamines and/or oral steroids.

Specific treatment will be determined by your child's physician based on the following:

• your child's age, overall health, and medical history
• extent of the pain or discomfort
• your child's tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
• expectations for the course of the healing
• your opinion or preference