Why babies shouldn’t be given injections while asleep’
Paediatricians and public health experts have warned that giving babies injections while they are asleep is dangerous and could potentially lead to complications including nerve damage and distress.
The physicians added that administering injections during sleep could cause severe pain, discomfort and spasms, a sudden involuntary muscular contraction, or convulsive movement.
They asserted that babies should be woken up and ensured they were in a conscious state before being administered injections.
According to the World Health Organisation, an injection is the act of administering a liquid, especially a drug, into a person’s body using a needle and a syringe.
The global health body said that a safe injection does not harm the recipient, does not expose the provider to risk and does not result in waste that is dangerous for others.
“All of us, at some point in our lives, will have an injection to retain or restore good health. But sometimes, injections intended to promote health do the opposite,” the WHO added.
Speaking with PUNCH Healthwise in different interviews, the physicians explained that while injections were one of the most common healthcare procedures, they should not be given to a child while sleeping.
The doctors cautioned that if a baby wakes up abruptly from sleep and reacts with shock or agitation during such injection, it could lead to distress, swelling, and redness at the injection site.
They urged the healthcare providers to ensure babies are awake before receiving their injections to avoid potential negative outcomes including spasms.
An Epidemiologist and Professor of Public Health at the University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Tanimola Akande, advised against administering injections to babies while they were asleep.
Akande, who is also a former National Chairman of the Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria, emphasised that giving an injection to a sleeping child could cause unnecessary distress and discomfort at the injection site.
He noted that this can lead to nerve injury if the injection is given at an incorrect site and emphasised the importance of monitoring for any swelling or redness at the injection site.
Akande, who has led the Department of Epidemiology and Community Health at the University of Ilorin, stated, “The best practice is to administer the injection while the child is awake.”
On safety precautions, the physician added, “It should also be administered at the appropriate site, route, and dosage to ensure safety.”
Speaking further, a Consultant Paediatrician at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Dr Adefunke Babatola said that one of the critical concerns with giving an injection to a sleeping infant is the risk of nerve injury.
Babatola said that if the injection was not administered at the correct site or if the injection technique was not properly executed, there was a risk of damaged nerves, which could lead to long-term complications.
She said, “The injection site requires careful monitoring for signs of swelling, redness, or other adverse reactions. Administering the injection while the baby is asleep may hinder the ability to observe and manage these potential issues effectively.
“When a baby is asleep, their body is relaxed, and sudden disturbances such as an injection can lead to a heightened reaction upon waking including spasms.
“Furthermore, waking up suddenly from sleep due to an injection can cause significant distress for the baby, potentially leading to a shock-like reaction. This can exacerbate the child’s discomfort and may even result in more severe pain.
“The process of injecting a baby should involve ensuring the child’s comfort and minimising distress, which is best achieved when the baby is awake and calm.”
This approach, she added, ensures that the child receives the injection in the safest and least distressing manner possible, while also allowing for immediate responses to any adverse reactions.
More so, a Public Health Physician and Medical Director at the Federal College of Education, Akoka Medical Centre, Lagos, Dr Rotimi Adesanya, said it is important to wake all babies before injection, as a baby might be semi-conscious, breathing but not responsive or even dead.
Adesanya said, “If a baby struggles during the procedure, there is a risk of nerve injury or other physical harm.
“It can lead to nerve injury if the baby suddenly shakes or moves and the needle ends up in the wrong place.
“The best practice is for the mother to wake the baby and hold them during the injection. Also, check the baby’s eyes to ensure there are no signs of illness such as jaundice or anaemia. Babies are generally more relaxed and safe in their mother’s arms.”
