From the Guidelines
The recommended dosage of Keflex (cephalexin) for urinary tract infections (UTIs) in children is 50–100 mg/kg per day in 4 doses. This dosage is based on the most recent and highest quality study available, which was published in the journal Pediatrics in 2011 1. The study provides a guideline for the diagnosis and management of the initial UTI in febrile infants and children 2 to 24 months, and it recommends cephalexin as one of the oral treatment options for UTIs.
Some key points to consider when treating UTIs in children with cephalexin include:
- The total course of therapy should be 7 to 14 days, with 7 days being the minimal duration selected 1
- The specific dose should be adjusted based on the child's weight, age, and severity of infection
- Children should complete the full course of antibiotics even if symptoms improve before finishing the medication
- Adequate fluid intake should be encouraged during treatment to help flush bacteria from the urinary tract
It's also important to note that cephalexin is effective for UTIs because it's a first-generation cephalosporin antibiotic that works by inhibiting bacterial cell wall synthesis, particularly against common UTI-causing organisms like E. coli. Potential side effects include diarrhea, nausea, and allergic reactions, and parents should contact their healthcare provider if the child develops a rash, severe diarrhea, or if symptoms don't improve within 2-3 days of starting treatment.
From the FDA Drug Label
- 5 Genitourinary Tract Infections Cephalexin capsules are indicated for the treatment of genitourinary tract infections, including acute prostatitis, caused by susceptible isolates of Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, and Klebsiella pneumoniae.
- 2 Pediatric Patients (over 1 year of age) The recommended total daily dose of oral cephalexin capsules for pediatric patients is 25 to 50 mg/kg given in equally divided doses for 7 to 14 days.
The genetic name of Keflex is cephalexin. For UTI dosage in kids, the recommended total daily dose is 25 to 50 mg/kg given in equally divided doses for 7 to 14 days 2.
From the Research
Keflex (Cephalexin) Dosage for UTIs in Children
- The genetic name for Keflex is cephalexin 3.
- Cephalexin is useful in the treatment of infections of the genitourinary tract, including urinary tract infections (UTIs) 3, 4.
- Children may need higher doses per kilogram than those used in treating adults due to their greater body water turnover 3.
- A study found that a 3-day course of cephalexin, 25-50 mg/kg body weight per day, was effective in treating lower urinary tract infections in children 5.
- The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends cephalexin as a first-line treatment for uncomplicated UTIs in children, with a dosage of 25-50 mg/kg per day, divided into 2-4 doses 6.
Important Considerations
- Patients with creatinine clearances less than 30 ml/min require a reduction in cephalexin dosage, which should be proportional to the reduced function 3.
- Resistance rates to cephalexin were found to be low (9.9%) in a study of urinary samples from children with UTIs in a community setting 7.
- Urinary tract abnormalities and recurrent UTIs were associated with an increase in antibiotic resistance rates, including resistance to cephalexin 7.