Cefixime Dosing for a 6-Year-Old Patient
For a 6-year-old child, administer cefixime 8 mg/kg/day, which can be given as a single daily dose or divided into two doses of 4 mg/kg every 12 hours. 1
Standard Pediatric Dosing
- The FDA-approved dose for pediatric patients 6 months or older is 8 mg/kg/day of cefixime oral suspension 1
- This total daily dose may be administered either:
- As a single daily dose (8 mg/kg once daily), OR
- As divided doses (4 mg/kg every 12 hours) 1
Weight-Based Dosing Calculation
For practical dosing based on typical 6-year-old weights:
- For a child weighing 20-28 kg (typical 6-year-old range): Give 200 mg daily (10 mL of 100 mg/5 mL suspension OR 5 mL of 200 mg/5 mL suspension) 1
- For a child weighing 28-33 kg: Give 250 mg daily (12.5 mL of 100 mg/5 mL suspension OR 6 mL of 200 mg/5 mL suspension) 1
Critical Indication-Specific Considerations
- For otitis media specifically: You MUST use the oral suspension formulation, not capsules or tablets, because suspension achieves higher peak blood levels necessary for middle ear penetration 1
- For Streptococcus pyogenes infections (pharyngitis/tonsillitis): Continue treatment for at least 10 days regardless of clinical improvement 1
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Do not substitute capsules for suspension in otitis media treatment - this is explicitly contraindicated due to inadequate drug levels 1
- Always specify the suspension concentration when prescribing in milliliters, as cefixime suspension comes in two concentrations (100 mg/5 mL and 200 mg/5 mL) 1
- Note that cefixime has approximately 10% lower efficacy than comparators for Streptococcus pneumoniae otitis media - consider alternative agents if pneumococcal infection is strongly suspected 1