Reducing pain could lead to increased immunization rates

Feb 4 2008

Studies have shown that some parents are reluctant to have their children immunized because they fear their children will experience significant pain during and after the injections.

The authors of the study, “Analgesic Properties of Oral Sucrose During Routine Immunizations at 2 and 4 Months of Age,” examined how the use of an oral sucrose (sugar) solution may help reduce pain response for children ages two to four months.

One hundred infants receiving routine immunizations received either a controlled amount of oral sucrose or a placebo. The group receiving oral sucrose had lower pain scores than those in the placebo group.

In fact, over the course of 9 minutes, the oral sucrose group had an average of 78 percent lower pain scores than the control group.

The authors conclude that oral sucrose is an inexpensive, short-acting, non-sedating, easily-administered method of reducing pain for infants undergoing minor invasive procedures.going minor invasive procedures.