Breaking news coverage for Allergic Living from the 2016 AAAAI conference.
Epinephrine auto-injectors are a life-saving tool for children with allergies, however new evidence suggests the design of the devices may need adjustment for use on very young children.
The needles in pediatric auto-injectors are half-an-inch long, but according to research presented at the AAAAI conference in March, the ideal length for babies is unknown. Using ultrasound technology, researchers simulated an epinephrine auto-injector on 53 infants and toddlers (16.5 to 33 pounds) and assessed the impact. Their results suggest that the needle inside pediatric auto-injectors needs to be shortened in order to avoid striking bone rather than muscle.
Ishani Nath 