Paediatric drug delivery and routes of administration

By definition, drug delivery systems allow patients to take their medication in a convenient and effective manner. They are designed to be the most appropriate dosage form to suit the patient and to treat a specific disease. Ultimately, efficacy and safety while limiting side effects are improved along with compliance. 

The potential of various routes of administration in children will be addressed briefly, bearing in mind that, when choosing a route in a defined clinical situation, the same general rules apply as in adult administration. Nevertheless, this choice will also be influenced by the developmental stage of the child and is further complicated by the capability and cooperation of the children and their carers. 

Administration of any medicine per os remains the route of choice if the clinical condition allows it. 

Effervescent preparations, powders and granules, chewable dosage forms and fast-dissolving/disintegrating preparations in the oral cavity. 

For local but also systemic delivery, the oromucosal route might be suitable if safety is established. Mucoadhesive preparations, especially films, semi-solids and liquids, might be of interest if they do not interfere with suction and frequent feeding. Nevertheless, one of the major issues remains the taste of the preparation and the willingness as well as the ability of the child to retain buccal or sublingual tablets in the mouth, thus ensuring that sufficient absorption takes place. 

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