Allergies in children: Giving an epinephrine shot to a child
How do I give the shot?
- Grasp the epinephrine shot injector in your hand with the black tip pointing down. Form a fist around the injector. Do not touch the black tip.
- With the other hand, pull off the gray cap.
- Hold the black tip close to your child's outer thigh. Press the black tip firmly into your child's thigh (through clothing if necessary). The injector should be at a 90-degree angle to the thigh.
- Keep the injector in your child's outer thigh while you slowly count to 5.
- Remove the injector, and rub the area where the medicine entered the skin.
- Look at the black tip: If the needle is showing, your child received the dose. If not, you need to repeat steps 3 through 5. Note: It is normal for most of the liquid to be left in the injector. Do not try to inject the remaining liquid.
- After the shot, push the needle against a hard surface to bend the needle back. Put the injector back in its case, needle first. Do not put the gray activation cap back on the injector.
- Have your child take the antihistamine tablet in the allergy kit.
Your child should feel the effects of the medicine almost right away. These will include a rapid heartbeat and nervousness as well as improved breathing. The benefits of the shot usually last 10 to 20 minutes.
In some severe cases, you may need to give a second shot. Your doctor will explain when a second shot is needed. Make sure you understand, and ask questions if you are not sure. Too much epinephrine can cause serious side effects, such as difficulty breathing.
What do I do after I give the shot?
- Immediately call 911. Tell the operator that you gave your child a shot and more epinephrine needs to be brought in the ambulance. Or if a hospital is close by, take your child to the emergency room. At the hospital, give the doctor or nurse the used injector. It will be checked and then disposed of properly.
- Your child will need to be observed in the hospital for several hours to make sure symptoms don't return. If your child is discharged from the hospital sooner, sit in the waiting room. Do not count on being able to get back in time.
- If your child has any heart problems, be sure to tell the doctor or nurse.
Test Your Knowledge
I don't feel comfortable giving my child a shot. If she has an allergic reaction, I can just take her to the hospital.
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| Author: | Bets Davis, MFA | Last Updated: March 9, 2009 |
| Medical Review: | Ruth Schneider, MPH, RD - Diet and Nutrition Harold S. Nelson, MD - Allergy and Immunology | |
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