Some mothers may be disconcerted to learn that animated cartoon characters may be twice as effective as they are at reducing their children's pain during medical procedures such as blood tests.

A recent study conducted by Italian researchers found that children who viewed cartoons immediately preceding and during blood tests experienced less pain than children whose mothers attempted to distract them during the procedure, or children whose mothers were present but did not interact with them.

The research, led by Carlo Bellieni, MD, at the University of Siena, is published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood. Sixty-nine children participated in the study. None received any type of anesthesia; the children and their mothers determined their pain scores.

Both the group whose mothers' attempted to distract them from the blood tests and those whose mothers simply observed reported substantially higher pain ratings that the group who watched cartoons. For that group, the levels of pain were less and the children were better able to tolerate the pain they did experience.

One of the possible explanations is that children might have picked up on their mothers' anxiety during the procedures, exacerbating their perception of pain.

"The higher pain level reported by children during mothers' efforts at distraction shows the difficulty mothers have in interacting positively at a difficult moment in their children's life," the authors write.

However, they stressed that the mothers' presence still provided benefits, noting the the children would appreciate not being left alone during the procedures.

"Indeed, children state that having their parent present provides the most comfort when in pain," say the authors.

Another possibility offered for consideration is the the notion that the pleasure of watching TV might release pain-quelling endorphins. Endorphins -- biochemical compounds produced by the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus in vertebrates -- resemble opiates in their ability to produce analgesia and a sense of well-being. In other words, they might function as natural pain killers.

In any case, the study results suggest that health workers should consider allowing children to watch television during painful procedures to minimize their distress.