Pain in neonate.

ABSTRACT

Anatomical, functional and neurochemical maturation of pain pathways is well developed in fetus and neonates. Various physiological and behavioural responses to painful stimuli in neonates substantiate their ability to feel pain. Biological effects of pain are systematically studied in human fetus and neonates. Pain expressions in the newborn not only reflect tissue damage but are a function of ongoing behavioural state. The ultimate aim should be to keep neonates free from pain and other stressful stimuli as far as possible, by advocating minimal handling protocol, giving comforts after painful procedures, local anesthesia while carrying out painful procedures like cutdown and insertion of chest tubes, and if a baby is ventilated fentanyl and/or midazalam infusion must be carried out during initial periods of ventilation.