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Electrophysiological Measurements and Analysis of Nociception in Human Infants
09:18

Electrophysiological Measurements and Analysis of Nociception in Human Infants

Published on: December 20, 2011

Effectiveness of oral sucrose for pain management in infants during immunizations

Donna Miles Curry1, Cindy Brown, Sharon Wrona

  • 1College of Nursing & Health, Wright State University, Dayton, OH 45435, USA. donna.curry@wright.edu

Pain Management Nursing : Official Journal of the American Society of Pain Management Nurses
|August 30, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Oral sucrose did not significantly reduce pain in infants during immunizations. Researchers found no difference in pain scores or crying time between sucrose and sterile water groups.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Pain Management
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Routine infant immunizations are a common source of acute pain.
  • Non-pharmacological methods for pain relief are sought to minimize infant distress.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of oral sucrose as an analgesic during infant immunizations.
  • To compare different concentrations of sucrose and sterile water for pain reduction.

Main Methods:

  • 113 healthy infants aged 2, 4, and 6 months were randomly assigned to receive 2 mL of 50% sucrose, 75% sucrose, or sterile water orally 2 minutes before immunization.
  • Pain was assessed using the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC) scores and crying time.

Main Results:

  • No statistically significant differences in FLACC scores or crying time were observed among the sucrose and sterile water groups.
  • Pain reduction efficacy was not demonstrated for oral sucrose in this study population.

Conclusions:

  • Oral sucrose at 50% or 75% concentration did not provide significant pain relief during routine infant immunizations compared to sterile water.
  • Consolability factors may play a role in perceived pain, warranting further investigation.

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