From the Guidelines
For a 4-year-old child weighing 34 pounds (approximately 15.4 kg) with strep throat, the recommended dose of amoxicillin 400mg/5ml would be 7.7 ml given once daily for 10 days, as the most recent and highest quality study recommends 50 mg per kg once daily (maximum = 1,000 mg) 1. This dosage is based on the standard recommendation for strep throat treatment. Since this child weighs 15.4 kg, the daily dose would be approximately 770 mg per day. Using the 400mg/5ml concentration, each dose would be about 7.7 ml (which provides about 770 mg). Some key points to consider when administering this medication include:
- Completing the full 10-day course of antibiotics even if symptoms improve before then, as this helps ensure complete eradication of the bacteria and prevents complications 1.
- Using a medication syringe or dosing spoon for accurate measurement.
- The medication can be given with or without food.
- If the child experiences severe diarrhea, rash, or difficulty breathing while taking the medication, contact a healthcare provider immediately as these could indicate an allergic reaction or side effect. It's also important to note that the diagnosis of strep throat should be established through accurate testing, as the signs and symptoms of GAS and nonstreptococcal pharyngitis overlap broadly, making clinical diagnosis alone usually impossible 1. The recommended dosage and treatment duration are crucial in preventing acute rheumatic fever and suppurative complications, as well as minimizing potential adverse effects of inappropriate antimicrobial therapy 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
Table 1 ... Ear/Nose/Throat Mild/ Moderate 25 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 12 hours or 20 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 8 hours ...
To calculate the dose for a 4-year-old who weighs 34lbs, first convert the weight to kilograms. 34lbs is approximately 15.4kg. For a mild to moderate ear/nose/throat infection, the recommended dose is 25 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 12 hours. So, the dose would be 15.4kg x 25 mg/kg/day = 385 mg/day. Divided into 2 doses (every 12 hours), the dose would be approximately 192.5 mg per dose. Since the available formulation is 400mg/5ml, the volume of the dose would be approximately 2.4 ml per dose (192.5 mg / 400 mg per 5 ml = 2.4 ml). However, it is always best to consult a doctor or pharmacist for the exact dose and administration instructions. 2
From the Research
Dosage Calculation
To determine the correct dosage of amoxicillin 400mg/5ml for a 4-year-old child who weighs 34lbs, we need to consider the recommended dosage for strep throat treatment.
- The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a dosage of 25-50 mg/kg/day of amoxicillin, divided into 2-3 doses, for the treatment of strep throat 3, 4.
- For a child who weighs 34lbs (approximately 15.4kg), the calculated dosage would be:
- 25 mg/kg/day: 15.4kg x 25mg/kg = 385mg/day
- 50 mg/kg/day: 15.4kg x 50mg/kg = 770mg/day
- Since the available formulation is 400mg/5ml, the dosage can be adjusted to fit within this range.
Administration
- The recommended course of treatment for strep throat is 10 days 3, 4.
- The dosage should be divided into 2-3 doses per day, depending on the prescribed regimen.
- It is essential to follow the prescribed dosage and administration schedule to ensure effective treatment and minimize the risk of antibiotic resistance.