DOI: 10.33631/sabd.1986403 ISSN: 2792-0542

Evaluation of Clinical Characteristics of Children Prescribed Adrenaline Autoinjector

Enes Çelik, Hande Yüksel Bulut
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Aim: Adrenaline is the only life-saving first-line treatment for anaphylaxis. Adrenaline autoinjectors (AAIs) are prescribed for patients with anaphylaxis and selected individuals at increased future risk. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics, prescription indications, and anaphylaxis triggers of children prescribed AAI.Material and Methods: This retrospective study included children aged 0–18 years who were prescribed an AAI at a pediatric allergy and immunology clinic between July 1, 2024 and July 1, 2025. Demographic and clinical characteristics, prescription indications, anaphylaxis history and triggers, and data on previous AAI prescription and use were retrospectively extracted from medical records.Results: A total of 98 children were included; 64 (65.3%) were male, and the median age was 96.5 months (IQR, 56.5–177.0) [range, 6–211]. AAIs were prescribed for anaphylaxis in 80 patients (81.6%) and based on recognized risk factors in 18 patients (18.4%) without anaphylaxis. In this high-risk group, indications were food allergy (n=8), mastocytosis (n=6), venom allergy (n=3), and cold urticaria (n=1). Among patients with anaphylaxis, 66 (82.5%) had acute anaphylaxis and 14 (17.5%) had previous anaphylaxis. The most common triggers were foods (n=35, 43.8%), drugs (n=31, 38.7%), venom (n=8, 10.0%), cat exposure (n=2, 2.5%), and other or idiopathic causes (n=4, 5.0%). Of 7 patients with acute anaphylaxis and a previous AAI prescription, only 1 used it during the episode.Conclusion: Most AAIs were prescribed for anaphylaxis, while some were prescribed based on recognized risk factors. AAI prescribing decisions should be individualized according to current guideline recommendations.

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