adrenaline in children with anaphylaxis
Last edited 11/2021 and last reviewed 12/2021
For teachers or parents giving adrenaline in the community the dosage has to be very clear, and the route is usually intramuscular. In this instance the dose is:
Doses of emergency drugs for anaphylaxis and angio-oedema (1,2):
| Drugs | Adult or child older than 12 years | Child aged 6-12 years | Child aged 6 months - 6 years | Child aged under 6 months |
| Adrenaline (IM*) 1:1000 (repeat after 5 minutes if no better) | 500 micrograms (0.5 mL) (give 300 micrograms IM [0.3 mL] in a child who is small or prepubertal) |
300 micrograms (0.3 mL) | 150 micrograms (0.15 mL) | 100-150 micrograms (0.1 to 0.15 mL) |
* IM: intramuscular
Notes:
- the majority of anaphylaxis episodes occurring in a community setting will respond to initial treatment with IM adrenaline, although currently around 10% receive more than one dose (2)
- this may sometimes be due to the use of auto-injectors which cannot deliver an age/weight-appropriate dose in most patients
- less than 1% of reactions are refractory to initial adrenaline treatment, and intensive care admissions for anaphylaxis are uncommon
Reference: