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Interventions to reduce pain during vaccination in infancy

Dilek Dilli1, Izzet Göker Küçük, Yildiz Dallar

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, Ministry of Health, Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. dilekdilli2@yahoo.com

The Journal of Pediatrics
|October 14, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Breast-feeding reduces vaccination pain in infants under six months. For older children, both sucrose solution and lidocaine-prilocaine cream effectively decrease pain during immunizations.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Pain Management
  • Immunization Practices

Background:

  • Vaccination is a critical preventive health measure for infants and children.
  • Pain during vaccination can cause distress and lead to needle phobia.
  • Effective pain management strategies are essential for positive healthcare experiences.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate interventions for reducing pain in infants and children during vaccinations.
  • To compare the efficacy of breast-feeding, sucrose solution, and lidocaine-prilocaine cream for pain relief.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized controlled trial involving 243 children aged 0-48 months undergoing routine vaccinations.
  • Infants (<6 months) were assigned to breast-feeding or no breast-feeding.
  • Older children (6-48 months) received 12% sucrose solution, lidocaine-prilocaine cream, or no intervention.
  • Pain and crying time were assessed using validated scales (NIPS, CHEOPS).

Main Results:

  • Breast-feeding significantly reduced pain and crying time in infants under six months.
  • Sucrose solution and lidocaine-prilocaine cream significantly decreased pain and crying time in children aged 6-48 months.
  • No significant difference in pain reduction was observed between sucrose and lidocaine-prilocaine treatments.

Conclusions:

  • Breast-feeding demonstrates an analgesic effect in infants up to six months of age.
  • Both 12% sucrose solution and lidocaine-prilocaine cream are effective in mitigating vaccination pain in older children.
  • These findings support the use of non-pharmacological and pharmacological interventions to improve vaccination tolerance.
Abstract

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