Sweet Taste of Sugar Comforts Babies During Injections- Research
A new Cochrane systematic review finds the sweet taste of sugar may provide some comfort for babies during immunisations. Researchers found babies did not cry for as long if they were given drops of sugar solution before injections.
Between birth and 18 months, babies may have as many as 15 injections. It is not certain whether babies feel pain in the same way as older children and adults, or whether they are simply unable to express it. Recent evidence has proven they do feel pain and efforts have been made to reduce pain caused by injections through the use of medicines, creams, pacifiers and distraction techniques. One simple alternative that is increasingly recommended is the use of a syringe or dropper to put a few drops of a sugary solution in a child’s mouth. The sugar may help to reduce pain by triggering the release of pain-relieving chemicals in the body or by contacting taste receptors that induce feelings of comfort.
Source: Medindia
Category: Education