Azithromycin Dosing for an 8-Month-Old, 6 kg Boy
The recommended dose of azithromycin for an 8-month-old boy weighing 6 kg is 10 mg/kg/day (60 mg) for 5 days. 1
Dosing Recommendation
According to the 2005 CDC guidelines for antimicrobial agents, the appropriate azithromycin dosing for infants aged 6 months and older is:
- 10 mg/kg (60 mg) once daily for 5 days 1
This is consistent with the FDA-approved dosing for azithromycin in pediatric patients, which recommends:
- For infants ≥6 months: 10 mg/kg as a single dose on day 1, followed by 5 mg/kg once daily on days 2-5 2
Practical Administration
For an 8-month-old weighing 6 kg:
- Day 1: 60 mg (10 mg/kg)
- Days 2-5: 30 mg (5 mg/kg)
Using the commercially available suspension:
- If using 100 mg/5 mL concentration:
- Day 1: 3 mL (60 mg)
- Days 2-5: 1.5 mL (30 mg) per day
Clinical Considerations
Indications
Azithromycin is commonly used in pediatric patients for:
- Respiratory tract infections
- Acute otitis media
- Community-acquired pneumonia
- Skin and soft tissue infections 3
Efficacy
- Azithromycin demonstrates good activity against common pediatric respiratory pathogens including Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, and atypical organisms like Mycoplasma pneumoniae 3
- The once-daily dosing and short treatment duration (5 days) improves compliance compared to other antibiotics 3
Pharmacokinetics in Children
- Azithromycin has extensive tissue distribution and intracellular accumulation
- The elimination half-life in children is approximately 3.8 hours after multiple dosing 4
- Once-daily administration results in sustained systemic exposure 5
Important Precautions
Administration
- Azithromycin can be taken with or without food 2
- Avoid co-administration with aluminum- or magnesium-containing antacids as they reduce absorption 1
Monitoring
- Monitor for gastrointestinal side effects (abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting)
- No routine laboratory monitoring is required for short-term therapy in otherwise healthy children 1
Contraindications
- History of hypersensitivity to azithromycin or any macrolide antibiotic
- Severe hepatic impairment (use with caution) 1
Conclusion
Azithromycin at 10 mg/kg/day (60 mg) for 5 days is the appropriate dosing for an 8-month-old boy weighing 6 kg. This regimen provides effective antimicrobial coverage while maintaining a favorable safety profile and convenient once-daily dosing.