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EMLA(R) cream: a pain-relieving strategy for childhood vaccination
Manal Abuelkheir1, Deema Alsourani, Ayman Al-Eyadhy
1Department of Clinical Pharmacy, King Khalid University Hospital, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Insights
Topical eutectic mixture of local anaesthetics (EMLA®) cream significantly reduced pain during childhood vaccinations compared to placebo. This intervention can be routinely used to improve the vaccination experience for children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pain Management
- Anesthesiology
- Immunization Practices
Background:
- Vaccination injections are a common source of acute pain in children.
- Effective pain management during immunization is crucial for adherence and reducing needle phobia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the efficacy of topical eutectic mixture of local anaesthetics (EMLA®) cream in alleviating pain associated with vaccination.
- To compare EMLA® cream with a placebo for pain reduction during routine immunizations in children.
Main Methods:
- A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted.
- Children received either EMLA® cream or a placebo before vaccination.
- Pain was evaluated using the Modified Behavioural Pain Scale (MBPS) and a visual analogue scale (VAS).
Main Results:
- EMLA® cream significantly reduced post-vaccination pain scores on the MBPS compared to placebo (2.56 vs. 3.95).
- VAS scores for needle prick and injection pain were significantly lower in the EMLA® group (1.60 and 3.29) versus placebo (3.24 and 4.86).
Conclusions:
- Topical EMLA® cream is an effective intervention for reducing vaccination-associated pain in children.
- EMLA® cream can be integrated into routine vaccination appointments to enhance patient comfort.
Objectives:
To evaluate the effectiveness of topical eutectic mixture of local anaesthetics (EMLA®) cream in reducing the pain associated with vaccination injections.
Methods:
This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study that included children who presented for routine immunization. Eligible children were randomly assigned to receive either EMLA® or placebo cream. The Modified Behavioural Pain Scale (MBPS) was used to assess baseline and postvaccination pain scores, while a visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to assess pain at the time of the needle prick and at the end of the injection.
Results:
A total of 107 children were enrolled in the EMLA® group and 109 children in the placebo group. The difference between the pre- and postvaccination MBPS scores was significantly lower in the EMLA group than in the placebo group (2.56 ± 1.96 versus 3.95 ± 2.20, respectively). The VAS scores at the time of the needle prick and after the injection were significantly lower in the EMLA® group compared with the placebo group (1.60 ± 1.67 versus 3.24 ± 2.01; 3.29 ± 2.27 versus 4.86 ± 2.20; respectively).
Conclusions:
Application of EMLA® cream can be effectively incorporated as a routine pain-relieving intervention within routine vaccination appointments.
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