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Topical anesthetics for pediatric needle stick

topical anesthetics for pediatric needle

Topical Anesthetics for Pediatric Needle Procedures

 

Needle sticks are the most common and greatest source of procedural pain for both children and adults.[1, 2] Needle stick derived pain ranges from quick immunizations to venipuncture, laceration repair, dermatologic procedures, injections, cannula insertion and is a growing concern. [1, 2] There is a growing need for topical anesthetics for pediatric needle stick and other superficial dermal instrumentation procedures.

Fortunately, over the past decade and a half, numerous solutions have been developed and studied to address pre-treatment for pain using a variety of methods, including topical anesthetics for pediatric needle procedures. While adults are affected by needle and other superficial dermal instrumentation derived pain, there has been a specific focus surrounding children. Concern for children, even those who are preverbal, is not frivolous, since the effects of untreated pain impact medical outcomes. [3] Memories of pain are evident in various stages of life that stem from earlier events remembered by patients stemming from preverbal childhood. [4] These effects amplify with age; adolescents avoid medical treatment, [5], 16% – 75% of surveyed adults refuse to donate blood [6 – 8] and geriatrics refuse flu shots due to fear of needle pain. [9]

The health implications of needle phobia extend beyond the affected individuals; HIV patients continue to infect others prior to getting blood tests due to fear of needles, [10] and needle phobic (trypanophobic) parents are less likely to immunize their children. [11]

With the understanding that trypanophobia has far reaching implications, the justification for minimizing pain using topical anesthetics for pediatric needle procedures is evident.  Children now get more than 20 sticks before they are 2 years old. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommendation to use pain control “whenever possible.” [12]

Reduction in vaccination compliance due to trypanophobia is a true and serious matter. The application of neonatal and pediatric pain assessment and management methods associated with needle stick should not be viewed as with appropriate care and concern. [12]

The administration of topical anesthetics for pediatric needle and other superficial dermal instrumentation procedures may have far reaching positive health related implications and should be considered as a potential standard of care.

 

 

Topical Anesthetics for Needle Stick Numbing
Topical Lidocaine Can Ease Pain Associated with Neonatal and Pediatric Needle Stick

 

 

 

 

NeuroMed7 is a topical anesthetic cream (4% lidocaine HCl) use to numb the skin locally when applied topically. Lidocaine numbs the skin by blocking neuronal impulses of localized pain to the brain. NeuroMed7 is supplied in single-use, sanitary 4 mL packets. 100 single-use, sanitary 4 mL packets are supplied in each dispenser box.
topical anesthetic for pediatric needle
1. Schechter NL, Zempsky WT, Cohen LL, McGrath PJ, McMurtry CM, Bright NS. Pain reduction during pediatric immunizations: evidence-based review and recommendations. Pediatrics 2007;119:e1184-1198.
2. Cummings EA, Reid GJ, Finley GA, McGrath PJ, Ritchie JA. Prevalence and source of pain in pediatric inpatients. Pain.
1996;68:25-31.

3. Anand KJ, Sippell WG, Aynsley-Green A. Randomised trial of fentanyl anaesthesia in preterm babies

undergoing surgery: effects on the stress response. Lancet. 1987;1:62-66.
4. Taddio A, Stevens B, Craig K, et al. Efficacy and safety of lidocaine-prilocaine cream for pain during
circumcision. N Engl J Med. 1997;336:1197-1201.
5. Vika M, Raadal M, Skaret E, Kvale G. Dental and medical injections: prevalence of self-reported problems
among 18-yr-old subjects in Norway. Eur J Oral Sci. 2006;114:122-127.
6. Harrington M, Sweeney MR, et al. What would encourage blood donation in Ireland? Vox Sang. 2007;92:361-
367.
7. Grossman B, Watkins AR, Fleming F, Debaun MR. Barriers and motivators to blood and cord blood donations in
young African-American women. Am J Hematol. 2005;78:198-202.
8. Wiwanitkit V. Knowledge about blood donation among a sample of Thai university students. Vox Sang.
2002;83:97-99.
9. Allsup SJ, Gosney MA. Difficulties of recruitment for a randomized controlled trial involving influenza vaccination
in healthy older people. Gerontology. 2002;48:170-173.
10. Spielberger CD, Gorsuch PL, Lushene RE. Manual for the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Palo Alto, Calif:
Consulting Psychologist Press; 1970.
11. Froehlich H, West DJ. Compliance with hepatitis B virus vaccination in a high-risk population. Ethn Dis. 2001;11:548-553.

12. American Academy of Pediatrics. Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health; Task Force

on Pain in Infants, Children, and Adolescents. The assessment and management of acute pain in infants,
children, and adolescents. Pediatrics. 2001;108:793-797.