Which of the following is an indication for intranasal medications?

• A. Pain control
• B. Cardiac arrest
• C. Facial trauma
• D. Head trauma w/ altered LOC

Answer: (A)

Intranasal administration is used primarily for rapid, noninvasive analgesia in children when IV/IO access is challenging or to provide quick pain relief. The nasal mucosa allows fast absorption, so medications like fentanyl can start working quickly without needle sticks, which is especially useful for painful injuries.

That makes pain control the best indication here. In contrast, cardiac arrest is managed with CPR and IV/IO medications; the intranasal route is not appropriate for medication delivery in that setting. Facial trauma or head trauma with altered LOC often involves nasal/sinus or basal skull injuries, making intranasal administration either contraindicated or unsafe due to risk of nasal trauma or ineffective absorption. Therefore, intranasal meds are not indicated in those scenarios.