• Manal Abuelkheir, Deema Alsourani, Ayman Al-Eyadhy, Mohamad-Hani Temsah, Sultan Ayoub Meo, and Fahad Alzamil.
• Department of Clinical Pharmacy, King Khalid University Hospital, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
• J. Int. Med. Res. 2014 Apr 1; 42 (2): 329-36.

ObjectivesTo evaluate the effectiveness of topical eutectic mixture of local anaesthetics (EMLA®) cream in reducing the pain associated with vaccination injections.MethodsThis was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study that included children who presented for routine immunization. Eligible children were randomly assigned to receive either EMLA® or placebo cream. The Modified Behavioural Pain Scale (MBPS) was used to assess baseline and postvaccination pain scores, while a visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to assess pain at the time of the needle prick and at the end of the injection.ResultsA total of 107 children were enrolled in the EMLA® group and 109 children in the placebo group. The difference between the pre- and postvaccination MBPS scores was significantly lower in the EMLA group than in the placebo group (2.56 ± 1.96 versus 3.95 ± 2.20, respectively). The VAS scores at the time of the needle prick and after the injection were significantly lower in the EMLA® group compared with the placebo group (1.60 ± 1.67 versus 3.24 ± 2.01; 3.29 ± 2.27 versus 4.86 ± 2.20; respectively).ConclusionsApplication of EMLA® cream can be effectively incorporated as a routine pain-relieving intervention within routine vaccination appointments.

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