Babies With Life-Threatening Allergies Can Now Receive Epinephrine Through an Injector Made For Infants

Aside from keeping your child away from things they're allergic to, it can be difficult to control every situation in which they may find themselves in contact with their allergens, which is why having an epinephrine auto-injector (EAI) around gives parents some peace of mind. However, EpiPens and other brands require users to have a minimum weight of 33 pounds to use the kid versions of their EAIs, meaning that parents with an increasing number of infants, babies, and small toddlers with life-threatening allergies don't have the epinephrine safety net available to them — until now.

AUVI-q has just announced the first and only FDA-approved EAI for the treatment of life-threatening allergic reactions — including anaphylaxis — in babies and children weighing 16.5 to 33 pounds. The 0.1 mg single-use injection, which will feature a shorter needle and lower dose of epinephrine than other FDA-approved EAIs, will be available nationwide by prescription only beginning May 1.

"Anaphylactic reactions can be frightening and serious, and when experienced by the very young, some of whom can't communicate about what's happening, these episodes can be particularly alarming," says Dr. Vivian Hernandez-Trujillo, pediatric allergist and fellow of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, and American Academy of Pediatrics. "Now, caregivers can have the AUVI-q 0.1 mg in hand to respond to an allergic emergency and safely administer epinephrine to infants and toddlers."

If your baby or toddler has a life-threatening allergy, talk to their pediatrician to find out if the AUVI-q 0.1 mg EAI could be a fit for them, so you can breathe a sigh of relief at having one more way to combat the scary world of allergies.