Can cry in the newborn be used as an assessment of pain?
Pain in the neonate is a complex subject. The assessment of pain should be simple and clinically usable. So far, the scales that have been used to assess pain are too time consuming and complex. The analysis of cry in a simple manner, as described in this issue of Acta Paediatrica by Bellieni et al., could be used in a simple and effective way at the bedside.


CONCLUSIONS
Since sick and premature newborns are not studied, the scale needs further confirmation.
Schollin
Jens
J
Department of Paediatrics, Orebro University Hospital, Orebro, Sweden. jens.schollin@orebroll.se
D003448:Crying / Q000502:physiology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018730:Infant Behavior; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity