Question

Special Considerations, sites, and Techniques for Administering Medications for : infants (1st year) toddlers(1-3 years)preschool (4-6 years) school age (7-11 years) adolescence ( 12-18 years). Thank you in advance!

Answer 1

	Infants (1 year)	Toddlers(1-3 years)	Preschool(4-6 years)	School age( 7-11 years)	Adolescence (12-18 years)
Special considerations	1.When administering oral medications(liquid form) the position of child needs to be taken care of 2.During the administration of IM/IV medications make sure a extra needle is available to exchange for the contaminated one since children often move unexpectedly, also smaller needles should be preferred 3. Make sure that the injections are administered when the baby is awake 4.The site of injection and amount need to be checked	1. Add flavors when administering oral medication 2.During the administration of IM/IV medications smaller needles should be preferred 3. Make sure that the injections are administered when the baby is awake 4.The site of injection and amount need to be checked 5. IM site should be rotated	1.Add flavors when administering oral medication 2.For IV/IM, site for visible and palpable vein for IV, amount of drug needs to be considered 3.Determine the needle gauge and size based on the age and weight of the child 4.Avoid muscles that are atrophied 5.IM site should be rotated 6.Choose a site which is free form pain and infection	1.Determine the needle gauge and size based on the age and weight of the child 2.Avoid muscles that are atrophied 3.IM site should be rotated 3.Choose a site which is free form pain and infection	1.Determine the needle gauge and size based on the age and weight of the child 2.Avoid muscles that are atrophied 3.IM site should be rotated 3.Choose a site which is free form pain and infection
Sites	1.Oral 2.Rectal 3.Intramuscular -Vastus laterallis 4.Intravenous -Saphenous vein at the knee and ankle -Cubital fossa- to be avoided unless absolutely necessary -Scalp(Superficial temporal vein) to be used only when the other alternatives are exhausted	1.Oral 2.Rectal 3.Intramuscular -Vastus laterallis -Ventrogluteal 4.Intravenous -Saphenous vein at the knee and ankle -Cubital fossa- to be avoided unless absolutely necessary -Scalp(Superficial temporal vein) to be used only when the other alternatives are exhausted	1.Oral 2.Intramuscular- Ventrogluteal/dorsogluteal 3.Intravenous -Cubital fossa -Wrist (Volar aspect)	1.Oral 2.Intramuscular- Ventrogluteal/dorsogluteal 3.Intravenous -Cubital fossa -Wrist (Volar aspect)	1.Oral 2.Intramuscular- Ventrogluteal/dorsogluteal -Deltoid muscle 3.Intravenous -Cubital fossa -Wrist (Volar aspect)

	Infants (1 year)	Toddlers(1-3 years)	Preschool(4-6 years)	School age( 7-11 years)	Adolescence (12-18 years)
Techniques	1. Oral administration- fill nipple of the bottle with medication 2.Rectal administration- Solid suppository to be inserted above the anal sphincter 3.Octic medications-Instill the medication using dropper and have the child remain in the same position for few minutes 4.IV/IM- take the help of fellow nurses to hold the child and choose infection free site -Vastus lateralis- select the site by drawing an imaginary line between the trochanter and the area just above the knee	1. Oral administration- fill nipple of the bottle with medication 2.Rectal administration- Solid suppository to be inserted above the anal sphincter 3.Octic medications-Instill the medication using dropper and have the child remain in the same position for few minutes 4.IV/IM- take the help of fellow nurses to hold the child and choose infection free site -Vastus lateralis- select the site by drawing an imaginary line between the trochanter and the area just above the knee	1.Oral administration- mix the drug with flavors so that it does not taste too bitter thus making it easy to consume 2. IV/IM administration-divert the attention of the child by engaging in a common conversation like asking his name/interests/hobbies etc.. 3. Sublingual administration- can encourage the child to take it as a candy so that the child does not refuse its intake.	1.Oral administration-if the size of the tablet seems to be big it can be diluted and given(as per the insutruction0 or can be divided into two parts 2. IV/IM administration-divert the attention of the child by engaging in a common conversation like asking his name/interests/hobbies etc. also at this age usually children are well aware of the process of IM /IV therefore before administering the medication a small briefing can be provided. 3.Nebulization-child needs to be educated on this before using the inhalation devices	1. This is the age where the child capable enough to understand every detail of their body condition incase they suffer from any. So educating the child on the proper intake of medications prescribed id required and also helpful. 2.A brief description of the procedure can be given to the before any type of administration.

Above provided information includes the most common and important sites, routes and techniques of drug administration.

Note: Please leave a comment if information on various other routes of drug administration is needed.