[Adolescents with chronic pain: practical assessment and management]. / "Perdre du temps ... pour en gagner". Mieux soigner l'adolescent souffrant de douleurs chroniques.

ABSTRACT

More than 20% of adolescents in the general population suffer of chronic pain mainly headaches, abdominal or musculoskeletal pain. Often, these complaints are self limited without impact on adolescent development but the cause of emergency consultations, unnecessary costs or inappropriate prescriptions. For a small number of adolescents, chronic pain can express psychological suffering or impact on growth and physical, cognitive or social development. Continuity of care and collaboration among professionals is central. Primary care phyisicians play a crucial role (private practice, adolescent clinic...). Efforts should be made to increase access to modern approaches of chronic pain taking into account family, development as well as aspects related to pain in itself.