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Oral sucrose administration to reduce pain response during immunization in 16–19-month infants: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial

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Abstract

Although the analgesic effect of sucrose on newborns is well established, little is known about whether these solutions are effective in reducing procedural pain in infants beyond the newborn period. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of sucrose solution given orally on infant crying times and measure the distress in a 16–19-month age group. A total of 537 healthy, 16–19-month-old infants attending for their immunizations with intramuscular diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis (DTaP)/Haemophilus influenza type b/IPV (along with oral polio vaccination (OPV)), intramuscular pneumococcus and intramuscular hepatitis A were randomized to receive 2 mL of a 75 % sucrose solution, a 25 % sucrose solution or sterile water 2 min before injections. Infants receiving a 75 % sucrose solution had significantly reduced total crying times and Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Pain Scale scores (CHEOPS) compared with infants in the control and 25 % sucrose solution groups (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Sucrose solution reduces infant distress and is safe and clinically useful even for 16–19-month-old infants.

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Abbreviations

CHEOPS:

Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Pain Scale

DTaP:

Intramuscular diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis

IPV:

Inactive polio vaccination

OPV:

Oral polio vaccination

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Social and Developmental Pediatrics, Dr. Sami Ulus Children and Maternity Training Hospital, Birlik Mah. Kahire Cad. 451 Sokak, Zirvekent Mimoza Sitesi A2 Blok, No 54, Çankaya, Ankara, Turkey

    Gonca Yilmaz, Melek Oguz & Can Demir Karacan

  2. Turkish Ministry of Health, Ankara, Turkey

    Nilgun Caylan

Authors
  1. Gonca Yilmaz
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  2. Nilgun Caylan
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  3. Melek Oguz
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  4. Can Demir Karacan
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Correspondence to Gonca Yilmaz.

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Communicated by Beat Steinmann

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Yilmaz, G., Caylan, N., Oguz, M. et al. Oral sucrose administration to reduce pain response during immunization in 16–19-month infants: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Eur J Pediatr 173, 1527–1532 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-014-2358-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-014-2358-7

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