Parents' Use of Benzocaine for Oral Pain in Young Children

Abstract

<bold>Background</bold>: The U.S. FDA recommends against using benzocaine for oral pain in children younger than two years because of the risk of methemoglobinemia. The purpose of this study is to characterize parents' use of benzocaine in young children. <bold>Methods</bold>: A survey of 400 parents of children six to 72 months old was conducted at two pediatric clinics. It asked about oral pain experience, benzocaine use, receipt of benzocaine advice, and family demographics. <bold>Results</bold>: Overall, 44.2% of parents reported using benzocaine for teething pain, including 36.1% of parents of children six to 23 months old. The odds of using benzocaine in this age group was 14.4 times higher among those parents who received advice to use it than among those who did not receive this advice (95% CI = 1.7-117.8). <bold>Conclusion</bold>: Parents may lack awareness of the U.S. FDA's recommendation against benzocaine use in children younger than two years.