From the Guidelines
The recommended dose of cefdinir for a 16-month-old child with otitis media is 14 mg/kg per day in 1 or 2 doses.
Cefdinir Dosage Calculation
To calculate the exact dose, the child's weight should be taken into consideration. For a typical 16-month-old child, this would translate to approximately 7 mg/kg given twice daily, assuming an average weight of around 10 kg (22 pounds) for this age group 1.
Administration and Duration
Cefdinir is available as a suspension containing 125 mg/5 mL or 250 mg/5 mL and should be administered with or without food, though taking it with food may help reduce stomach upset. The full course of antibiotics, usually 5-10 days, should be completed even if symptoms improve before the medication is finished.
Mechanism of Action and Efficacy
Cefdinir works by inhibiting bacterial cell wall synthesis, which is effective against many common bacteria that cause ear infections, including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis.
Side Effects and Precautions
Parents should be aware that common side effects may include diarrhea, diaper rash, and allergic reactions. If the child has a penicillin allergy, caution should be exercised, although recent data suggest that cross-reactivity among penicillins and cephalosporins like cefdinir is lower than historically reported 1.
Key Considerations
- Dose Calculation: Based on the child's weight.
- Administration: With or without food.
- Duration: Complete the full course of 5-10 days.
- Side Effects: Monitor for diarrhea, diaper rash, and allergic reactions.
- Penicillin Allergy: Exercise caution, but cross-reactivity with cefdinir is considered low 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
The recommended dosage and duration of treatment for infections in pediatric patients are described in the following chart; the total daily dose for all infections is 14 mg/kg, up to a maximum dose of 600 mg per day. Acute Bacterial Otitis Media 7 mg/kg q12h or 14 mg/kg q24h 5 to 10 days 10 days
For a 16-month-old child with otitis media, the recommended dose of cefdinir is 7 mg/kg every 12 hours or 14 mg/kg every 24 hours.
- To determine the dose, the child's weight in kilograms is needed.
- The dose should not exceed the maximum dose of 600 mg per day. 2
From the Research
Cefdinir Dose for 16 Months Old Otitis Media
- The recommended dose of cefdinir for a 16-month-old child with otitis media is not explicitly stated in the provided studies, but we can look at the dosage regimens used in the studies for children of similar ages.
- A study from 2000 3 compared two dosage regimens of cefdinir (14 mg/kg daily and 7 mg/kg twice a day) with amoxicillin/clavulanate for the treatment of suppurative acute otitis media in children aged 6 months to 12 years.
- Another study from 2012 4 compared the clinical efficacy of amoxicillin/clavulanic acid high-dose therapy for 10 days with cefdinir therapy for 5 days for acute otitis media at recommended doses (14 mg/kg/day for cefdinir).
- A 5-day course of cefdinir (7 mg/kg twice a day) was also examined in a study from 2000 5 for the treatment of tympanocentesis-documented acute otitis media in children aged 6 months through 12 years.
- Based on these studies, the dose of cefdinir for a 16-month-old child with otitis media could be 14 mg/kg daily or 7 mg/kg twice a day, but the specific dose and duration of treatment should be determined by a healthcare professional based on the individual child's needs and medical history.
Considerations
- The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends amoxicillin/clavulanic acid as the first-line treatment for acute otitis media in children, but cefdinir may be considered as an alternative in certain cases 4.
- Cefdinir has been shown to be effective in eradicating common causative pathogens of nonrefractory acute otitis media, including intermediate penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae and beta-lactamase-producing organisms 5.
- The choice of antibiotic and dosage regimen should be based on the severity of the infection, the child's age and weight, and any underlying medical conditions or allergies.