Which is a common intramuscular injection site for infants under 12 months old?

Which is a common intramuscular injection site for infants under 12 months old?

• A. Deltoid.
• B. Vastus lateralis (mid-lateral thigh).
• C. Gluteal.
• D. Dorsogluteal.

Answer: (B)

Infants under 12 months benefit from injecting into a large, well-developed muscle that is easy to access and away from major nerves. The mid-lateral portion of the vastus lateralis (the outer thigh) fits this best: it provides solid muscle mass in young infants, is readily accessible, and sits away from the sciatic nerve and major vessels, reducing the risk of nerve injury and improving vaccine absorption. The deltoid is too small in this age, making injections unsafe and less reliable. The gluteal region, especially the upper outer quadrant, is not ideal in infants because the gluteal muscles are less reliable for IM delivery and there’s a higher risk of injuring nearby nerves. The dorsogluteal site carries similar nerve risk and is poorly marked in tiny infants, so it’s not used.

Infants under 12 months benefit from injecting into a large, well-developed muscle that is easy to access and away from major nerves. The mid-lateral portion of the vastus lateralis (the outer thigh) fits this best: it provides solid muscle mass in young infants, is readily accessible, and sits away from the sciatic nerve and major vessels, reducing the risk of nerve injury and improving vaccine absorption. The deltoid is too small in this age, making injections unsafe and less reliable. The gluteal region, especially the upper outer quadrant, is not ideal in infants because the gluteal muscles are less reliable for IM delivery and there’s a higher risk of injuring nearby nerves. The dorsogluteal site carries similar nerve risk and is poorly marked in tiny infants, so it’s not used.