From the FDA Drug Label
In Pediatric Patients over 3 Months of Age, 20 to 45 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 8 to 12 hours. Table 1 (12 weeks) n 40 kg Recommended Dosage for Pediatric Patients Aged 3 Months and Older and Weight Less than 40 kg Skin/Skin Structure Mild/ Moderate 25 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 12 hours or 20 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 8 hours Severe 45 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 12 hours or 40 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 8 hours
The recommended dosing of Augmentin (amoxicillin-clavulanate) liquid for a 3-year-old child with periorbital cellulitis is 20 to 45 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 8 to 12 hours, with the specific dose depending on the severity of the infection. For a skin/skin structure infection like periorbital cellulitis, the dose would be:
- Mild/Moderate: 25 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 12 hours or 20 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 8 hours
- Severe: 45 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 12 hours or 40 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 8 hours 1 1 1
From the Research
For a 3-year-old child with periorbital cellulitis, the recommended dosing of Augmentin (amoxicillin-clavulanate) liquid is typically 45 mg/kg/day of the amoxicillin component, divided into two doses given every 12 hours, as supported by the most recent and highest quality study available 2.
Key Considerations
- The treatment duration is usually 7-10 days, and it's essential to complete the full course of antibiotics even if symptoms improve earlier.
- The medication should be refrigerated after reconstitution and shaken well before each dose.
- Augmentin should be given with food to minimize gastrointestinal side effects like diarrhea.
Efficacy and Safety
- This antibiotic combination is effective for periorbital cellulitis because it provides coverage against common causative organisms including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus aureus, and other respiratory pathogens.
- The clavulanate component inhibits beta-lactamase enzymes that some bacteria produce to resist amoxicillin alone, as noted in a study on the treatment of community-acquired respiratory tract infections 3.
Monitoring and Follow-up
- Parents should contact their healthcare provider if the child's condition worsens, if fever persists beyond 48 hours of treatment, or if the child develops severe diarrhea.
- Regular follow-up with a healthcare provider is crucial to ensure the child is responding to treatment and to address any potential complications, as highlighted in a study on the management of periorbital cellulitis in the pediatric emergency department 2.