From the FDA Drug Label
The recommended dose is 8 mg/kg/day of the suspension. Table 1 Suggested Doses for Pediatric Patients PEDIATRIC DOSAGE CHART Doses are suggested for each weight range and rounded for ease of administration Cefixime for Oral Suspension 100 mg/5 mL 200 mg/5 mL Patient Weight (kg) Dose/Day (mg) Dose/Day (mL) Dose/Day (mL) 5 to 7.5 50 2.5 --
The recommended dose of Cefexime for a 5kg child is 50 mg/day. According to the dosage chart, for a child weighing between 5 to 7.5 kg, the dose is 50 mg/day, which can be administered as a single daily dose or divided into two doses of 25 mg every 12 hours 1.
From the Research
For a 5kg child with diarrhea, the primary treatment should focus on preventing dehydration through oral rehydration solutions and maintaining nutrition, rather than immediately resorting to antibiotics like Cefexime. The use of antibiotics in diarrhea treatment is generally not recommended unless there is evidence of a bacterial infection, such as bloody diarrhea, high fever, or positive stool cultures 2, 3. Given the potential for antibiotic resistance and disruption of gut flora, it's crucial to use antibiotics judiciously 2. In cases where antibiotics are deemed necessary, Cefixime (the correct spelling, not Cefexime) is typically dosed at 8 mg/kg/day divided into 1-2 doses, which for a 5kg child would be approximately 40mg per day 3. However, the decision to use antibiotics should be made under the guidance of a healthcare provider, considering the severity and cause of the infection. Key aspects of managing diarrhea in children include:
- Preventing dehydration with oral rehydration solutions
- Maintaining nutrition
- Avoiding unnecessary antibiotic use
- Considering the use of zinc supplementation, as it has been shown to be effective in reducing the duration and severity of diarrhea 4
- Practicing good hygiene, such as handwashing, to prevent the spread of infection 3.