A spoonful of sugar DOES help the medicine go down

Children who are given a sweet solution just before being immunised feel less pain and are generally more comfortable, according to a new study.

Covering over 1,500 injections in babies aged up to 1 year old, the study found that those given a small solution of sugar (sucrose or glucose) before their injection cried less than those who were not given anything or were given a placebo. The reduction in crying was "moderate" but seen in 13 of the 14 trials studied.

Although a similar effect was seen in older children, it was less pronounced.

The amount of glucose or sucrose given made a difference and the researchers found that infants receiving 30% glucose in some trials were almost half as likely to cry following immunisation.

However, the study could not determine the ideal dose due to the wide variety of concentrations and volumes used in the different trials.

Commenting on the results, the researchers said that “Healthcare professionals... should consider using sucrose or glucose during painful procedures."

Sugar solutions are also ideal for this purpose as they are fast acting, readily available, cheap and easy to administer according to the researchers.

The study was carried out by scientists from Australia, Canada and Brazil and will be published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood.

This article was published on Thu 13 May 2010