Zingo Offers Pain Relief During Child Injections

FRIDAY, Aug. 17 (HealthDay News) -- The pain-relieving drug Zingo (lidocaine hydrochloride) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for children aged 3 to 18 who have "venous access" procedures such as IV insertions or blood draws, maker Anesiva Inc. said Friday.

The fast-acting, no-needle treatment contains sterile lidocaine powder that is applied topically and begins working in one to three minutes, the company said in a statement.

In clinical testing involving 1,109 patients, common side effects of Zingo included redness and swelling at the application site.

More than 18 million pediatric venous access procedures are performed annually, Anesiva said. The company said it is also evaluating the drug's use in adults.

More information

To learn more about pediatric medical procedures and pain, visit the University of Michigan Health System.