A sufficient amoxicillin pediatric dosage is affected by many factors, including the specific condition being treated, the age of the patient, the weight of the patient, and their response to the treatment. For example, pediatric patients being treated for otitis media aged between four months and 12 years require 20 to 50 milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) in weight each day. If the patient is being treated for anthrax prophylaxis, the recommended dosage rises to 80 mg per kg in weight per day. In most cases, the amoxicillin pediatric dosage required is expressed as a range which relates to the weight of the patient and his or her response to the drug.
Weight is the most prevalent factor in determining a sufficient amoxicillin pediatric dosage. Larger patients require larger doses of the drug in order to achieve the same effect. For this reason, most dosages are expressed per kg in weight. This means that a patient weighing 50 kg will receive roughly twice the dosage that a patient weighing 25 kg will receive. Variations in weight can therefore cause substantial differences in dosage.
Another factor which can affect the amoxicillin pediatric dosage is the patient’s response to the drug. Some patients can have a natural resistance to many drug treatments, and doctors may opt to increase the dosage given to these patients. This is why most amoxicillin pediatric dosage amounts are listed as a range. For example, the dosage required for pneumonia can be between 40 and 50 mg per kg in weight. The specific dosage within this range is determined by the observed effects of the drug on the individual.
Different conditions also require a different amoxicillin pediatric dosage. If a patient aged between four months and 12 years of age is being treated for tonsillitis, the required dosage is between 20 and 50 mg per kg per day. A patient of the same age being treated for anthrax prophylaxis will receive a dosage of 80 mg per kg per day. This is because different conditions respond to different amounts of penicillin antibiotics.
Some conditions have different amoxicillin pediatric dosage requirements based on the age of the patient. For example, a patient between the ages of four weeks to three months being treated for a urinary tract infection will receive between 20 and 30 mg of amoxicillin. A patient between four months and 12 years of age can be given anything between 20 and 50 mg of the drug. This is because older patients are more resistant to drug treatments.