title: Intranasal medications in pediatric emergency medicine.
abstract: Intranasal medication administration in the emergency care of children has been reported for at least 20 years and is gaining popularity because of ease of administration, rapid onset of action, and relatively little pain to the patient. The ability to avoid a needle stick is often attractive to practitioners, in addition to children and their parents. In time-critical situations for which emergent administration of medication is needed, the intranasal route may be associated with more rapid medication administration. This article reviews the use of intranasal medications in the emergency care of children. Particular attention will be paid to anatomy and its impact on drug delivery, pharmacodynamics, medications currently administered by this route, delivery devices available, tips for use, and future directions.
authors.affiliation: Attending Physician and Research Fellow (Del Pizzo), Division of Emergency Medicine, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; Attending Physician and Vice Director (Callahan), Division of Emergency Medicine, Pediatric Residency Program, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Professor (Callahan), Clinical Pediatrics Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.
authors.forename: Jeannine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Del Pizzo
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Callahan
mesh_terms: D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002648:Child; D004333:Drug Administration Routes; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D004638:Emergency Treatment; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009666:Nose / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D010372:Pediatrics; D010599:Pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives