Clarithromycin Dosing for a 2-Year-Old Child Weighing 17 kg
For a 17 kg child, administer 6.4 mL of clarithromycin suspension (250 mg/5 mL) twice daily, which provides approximately 127.5 mg per dose.
Dosing Calculation
The recommended pediatric dose of clarithromycin is 15 mg/kg/day divided into 2 doses 1. For this 17 kg child:
- Total daily dose: 15 mg/kg/day × 17 kg = 255 mg/day
- Dose per administration: 255 mg ÷ 2 = 127.5 mg per dose
- Volume per dose: 127.5 mg ÷ (250 mg/5 mL) = 6.4 mL twice daily
Alternatively, you can round to 6.5 mL twice daily for practical measurement, which provides 130 mg per dose (260 mg/day total, or 15.3 mg/kg/day) and remains within the safe dosing range 1.
Clinical Context
Clarithromycin at this dose provides appropriate coverage for common pediatric respiratory pathogens including Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydia pneumoniae, and Chlamydophila pneumoniae 1. The standard treatment duration is 5 days for most community-acquired respiratory infections 1.
Important Considerations
- Administer twice daily (every 12 hours) to maintain therapeutic concentrations, as clarithromycin has an elimination half-life of 3.3 to 4.9 hours 2
- Food does not affect absorption, so the medication can be given with or without meals, though administration with food may improve gastrointestinal tolerability 3, 4
- Gastrointestinal side effects are less common with clarithromycin compared to erythromycin, but nausea or abdominal discomfort may still occur 5, 6
- Monitor for clinical improvement within 48-72 hours; lack of improvement warrants further investigation 1
Practical Administration
Using the 250 mg/5 mL suspension:
- Draw up 6.4 mL (or 6.5 mL for ease) using an oral syringe
- Administer twice daily (morning and evening)
- Continue for the prescribed duration, typically 5 days for respiratory infections 1