pain scale in toddler

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I'd like to know which pain scale do we use for a child less or equal than 3 years of age. is this scale valid and reliable one?

Thank you,

Roro.

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Specializes in Peds HH, LTC.

there are a few different scales that are used for children. They usually have some sort of picture or smiley/frown faces on them for the child to be able to point to it.

As for accuracy - I think that would depend on the cognitive level of the child. Pain is subjective, but you should be watching for other nonverbal clues with the child as well.

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Thank you dolphn545 for your reply, i'd like to know if the wong baker scale could be used for a toddler or what other scales can we use for toddlers?

thank you,

roro.

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Specializes in NICU, Psych, Education.

The Wong-Baker FACES Scale is used for ages 3 and up. In our NICU, we use the NIPS score. You might search for information about these other options for various ages within the 0-3 range, listed in the 6th edition of Wong's Essentials of Pediatric Nursing:

Objective Pain Score (OPS)

Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Pain Scale (CHEOPS)

Nurses Assessment of Pain Inventory (NAPI)

FLACC Postoperative Pain Tool

Behavioral Pain Score (BPS)

Modified Behavioral Pain Scale (MBPS)

Riley Infant Pain Scale (RIPS)

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I really like FLACC. Face Legs Activity Cry Consolability. It is based on how the child is acting and looks. It is fairly subjective through.

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Specializes in pediatrics.

I use the NIPS scale for infants and the FLACC scale for patients too young to understand the FACES scale.

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