Augmentin Dosing for Pneumonia in an 11-Year-Old Child
For an 11-year-old child with pneumonia, the recommended dose of Augmentin (amoxicillin/clavulanic acid) is 90 mg/kg/day of the amoxicillin component divided into 2 doses per day. 1
Dosing Recommendations Based on Severity
- For mild to moderate pneumonia, Augmentin can be dosed at 45 mg/kg/day of the amoxicillin component divided into 2 doses per day 1
- For more severe pneumonia or in areas with high pneumococcal resistance, the higher dosing of 90 mg/kg/day of the amoxicillin component divided into 2 doses is recommended 1
- The maximum daily dose should not exceed 4000 mg (4 g) of the amoxicillin component per day 1
Specific Considerations for Pneumonia
- When treating community-acquired pneumonia, the Infectious Diseases Society of America specifically recommends the 90 mg/kg/day dosing regimen divided into 2 doses 1
- For pneumonia potentially caused by β-lactamase producing H. influenzae, Augmentin with amoxicillin component at 45 mg/kg/day in 3 doses or 90 mg/kg/day in 2 doses is appropriate 1
- Weight-based dosing is more important than age-based dosing for determining the appropriate amount of medication 1
Duration of Therapy
- The typical treatment duration for respiratory infections including pneumonia should be 7-10 days 1
- Children on appropriate antibiotic therapy should show clinical improvement within 48-72 hours 1
- If no improvement is seen within this timeframe, reevaluation of the diagnosis and treatment is necessary 1
Monitoring and Follow-up
- Complete the full course of antibiotics as prescribed, even if symptoms improve before completion 1
- Monitor for common adverse effects including gastrointestinal disturbances (diarrhea, nausea, vomiting) and hypersensitivity reactions (rash, urticaria) 1
- Dosing should be adjusted based on the severity of infection and local patterns of antimicrobial resistance, particularly for pneumococcal resistance 1
Clinical Evidence Supporting Recommendation
- Studies have shown that twice-daily dosing of amoxicillin at higher doses (25-40 mg/kg/dose) provides adequate plasma concentrations for treating respiratory infections 2
- The combination of amoxicillin with clavulanic acid has demonstrated superior efficacy compared to amoxicillin alone in pediatric pneumonia, with a 93.8% clinical success rate versus 60.4% for amoxicillin alone 3
- Amoxicillin/clavulanate continues to be an important agent in the treatment of community-acquired respiratory tract infections due to its broad spectrum of activity against common respiratory pathogens 4