Dosage of Omnicef (Cefdinir) for a One-Year-Old Child
For a one-year-old child, the recommended dosage of Omnicef (cefdinir) is 14 mg/kg once daily or 7 mg/kg twice daily, with the total daily dose not exceeding 600 mg. 1
Detailed Dosing Information
Weight-Based Dosing
For a typical one-year-old child:
- Once-daily dosing: 14 mg/kg once daily
- Twice-daily dosing: 7 mg/kg twice daily
- Treatment duration: 5-10 days depending on the infection type
Specific Dosing by Weight
According to the FDA-approved pediatric dosage chart 1:
- For a child weighing approximately 9 kg (20 lbs): 2.5 mL of 125 mg/5 mL suspension twice daily or 5 mL once daily
- For a child weighing approximately 18 kg (40 lbs): 5 mL of 125 mg/5 mL suspension twice daily or 10 mL once daily
Dosing by Infection Type
The dosage remains consistent, but the duration varies by infection type:
- Acute bacterial otitis media: 5-10 days
- Acute maxillary sinusitis: 10 days
- Pharyngitis/tonsillitis: 5-10 days
- Uncomplicated skin infections: 10 days (twice-daily dosing only)
Administration Guidelines
- Cefdinir can be administered without regard to meals 1
- The suspension should be shaken well before each administration
- After reconstitution, the suspension can be used for 10 days, after which any unused portion must be discarded
Clinical Efficacy Considerations
Cefdinir has demonstrated good clinical efficacy in treating common pediatric infections:
- For acute otitis media, clinical cure rates of 77.4% at the end of therapy have been reported 2
- In streptococcal pharyngitis, cefdinir showed superior clinical cure rates (94.9%) compared to penicillin V (88.5%) 3
- The once-daily dosing regimen has been shown to be as effective as twice-daily dosing for most indications, offering convenient administration 4
Important Precautions
- For patients with renal insufficiency (creatinine clearance <30 mL/min/1.73 m²), the dose should be reduced to 7 mg/kg once daily 1
- Diarrhea is the most common adverse effect (approximately 11% of pediatric patients) 2
- Cefdinir suspension contains 2.86 g of sucrose per teaspoon, which should be considered for patients with diabetes
Practical Administration Tips
- The reconstituted suspension has a pleasant taste compared to other antibiotics, which may improve compliance in young children 5
- If the child misses a dose, it should be given as soon as remembered unless it's almost time for the next dose
- Complete the full course of antibiotics even if symptoms improve before completion
By following these dosing guidelines, cefdinir can effectively treat common bacterial infections in one-year-old children while maintaining a favorable safety profile.