Question

3. Identify age appropriate physiological responses to medications in infants and children.

4. What are the maximum volumes for IM administration in the infant, toddler, school age, and adolescent children?

Answer 1

4.

• Deltoid - in infants- not recommended

Toddler- 0.5ml

School age - 0.5 ml, Adolescent- 0.5ml to 1ml

• Ventro gluteal - in infants not recommended, Toddler- 1.5ml, school age- 1.5ml to 2ml, adolescent- 1.5ml to 2ml
• Dorso gluteal not recommended in infants, toddler, school age. In adolescents -1.ml to 2ml
• Vastus lateralis - in infants - 0.5ml, in toddler - 1 to 1.5ml, school age - 1.5 to 2ml, adolescent - 1.5 to 2ml

3.physiological response of medication in infants

• Surface area of gut is higher so increase absorption
• Gastric pH is less which inhibits the absorption of acid labile drugs
• Infants have decreased pancreatic exocrine function which affects the absorption of prodrug esters of fatty acids
• Glomerular filtration rate and tubular absorption is decreased due to immature development of kidneys. This results in improper drug absorption and can lead to toxicity

Physiological responses of medication in children

• BMR is higher so the drugs are quickly absorbed. So the drugs dosage to relative body weight of the children should be more than adults
• Decrease the risk of toxicity because blood brain barrier and skin barrier becomes more effective