Comparative effect of 20% dextrose and breast milk on the pain caused by hepatitis B vaccine in term neonates

Newborns are fully capable of pain perception, and uncontrolled pain, especially in the early life will impose unwanted effects on the child in the future. This study was performed to compare the analgesic effects of breast milk and 20% dextrose on the pain caused by hepatitis B vaccination in term neonates. In this randomized clinical trial, 210 term neonates were recruited and divided into three groups. The first group was given 2 cc breast milk,the second group was given 2 cc 20% dextrose orally and the third group, as control, was not given anything. Then, the neonates received hepatitis B vaccination. Pain intensity was measured in all three groups by DAN pain scoring system. The heart rate and oxygen saturation were measured in each group before and after injection. Pain intensity levels by DAN pain score were 8.67 in the control group, 4.95 in breast milk and 5.78 in 20% dextrose, which showed a significant difference between groups (P<0.001). Our results showed that both breast milk and 20% dextrose had analgesic effects, but breast milk was more effective to reduce pain than 20% dextrose.