Pediatric emergency care
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Pediatric emergency care · Aug 2022
Randomized Controlled TrialIntranasal Fentanyl to Reduce Pain and Improve Oral Intake in the Management of Children With Painful Infectious Mouth Lesions.
Painful infectious mouth conditions such as herpangina, hand-foot-and-mouth disease, and herpetic gingivostomatitis can cause pain, dehydration, and hospitalization in young children. Treatment for these conditions is generally supportive and directed toward pain relief from ulcerative lesions, thus facilitating oral intake, and preventing dehydration. Attempts at oral therapy at home and in the emergency department are often refused and immediately spit back out. This study evaluated the efficacy of intranasal fentanyl (INF) compared with a commonly used oral (PO) acetaminophen/hydrocodone formulation for the treatment of children with painful infectious mouth conditions. ⋯ Intranasal fentanyl seems to be a safe and effective alternative to acetaminophen with hydrocodone in reducing pain and improving hydration status in children with painful infectious mouth lesions and poor oral intake.