The ability of premature babies to feel pain has been the subject of debate in medicine.
Some babies do not cry when their heels are punctured as a procedure that is regularly performed in the neonatology units to obtain blood samples.
Doctors and nurses often have to rely not only on facial changes, and disturbed sleep patterns, but also subtle changes in heart rate and blood oxygen saturation to predict if a child is feeling pain.
Researchers at University College London found changes in the level of brain oxygen in response to pain. The research recorded the responses of 12 babies to heel tests while measuring brain changes in the somato-sensory area.
These changes in oxygen levels in certain areas of the brain are believed to be a byproduct of nerve activity in pain reaction. Although in general this reaction is related to other physical expressions, in some babies there was a cerebral response without any other physical change. Dr. Rebeca Sltaer who led the research said that "although the study is small, it raises concerns about the tools normally used by doctors to determine if a baby feels pain."
Babies may appear to feel no pain, but according to the measurement of brain activity it seems to show the opposite, therefore it is vital for parents and medical staff to work to assess and manage pain in babies. during any medical procedure.
"It is also important to promote the understanding of the nature of this pain to reduce the stress that parents feel at critical moments," the head of the investigation concluded.
