Pediatric medical traumatic stress refers to a set of psychological and physiological responses of children and their families to pain, injury, serious illness, medical procedures, and invasive or frightening treatment experiences. These responses may include symptoms of arousal, re-experiencing, and / or avoidance. They may vary in intensity, are related to the subjective experience of the event, and can become disruptive to functioning.

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Pediatric Medical Traumatic Stress Toolkit for Health Care Providers This toolkit was produced by the Medical Traumatic Stress Working Group of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network to

• raise awareness among health care providers about traumatic stress associated with pediatric medical events and medical treatment, and
• promote trauma-informed practice of pediatric health care in hospital settings across the continuum of care and in a variety of settings within the hospital.

"Medical Events & Traumatic Stress in Children and Families"(PDF) This professional presentation covers

• statistics on medical stress among children and adolescents,
• the impact of traumatic medical events on children, parents, and healthcare providers,
• definitions and key concepts in traumatic stress after medical events,
• cancer and traumatic stress,
• injury and traumatic stress, and
• pediatric intensive care units and traumatic stress.

Consult an NCTSN reading list of research on medical traumatic stress.