Dosage of Augmentin in children

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by Pharmacist Cao Thanh Tu, Faculty of Pharmacy - Vinmec Times City International Hospital.
Dosage of Augmentin for children is determined by the child's age, weight, kidney function and severity of the infection. However, for children over 12 years old or weighing 40 kg or more, the doctor may consider the same dosage as adults.

1. Indications of Augmentin

Augmentin consists of two components, Amoxicillin and clavulanic acid. Amoxicillin is an antibiotic of the penicillin group that is effective against certain types of bacteria. However, many bacteria are capable of producing an enzyme that reduces the effectiveness of amoxicillin. Therefore, a second ingredient - clavulanic acid is added to prevent this enzyme from working, so that amoxicillin can still work.
Because of its antibiotic nature, Augmentin is only effective in treating infections caused by bacteria. The drug does not work for diseases caused by viral infections (for example, colds or flu....). Because Augmentin is only effective against certain types of bacteria, it may be effective in one infection but not in others.
Moreover, bacteria are always trying to adapt to the effects of antibiotics, making many antibiotics that work well now become ineffective (antibiotic resistance). Therefore, deciding whether to use antibiotics or not and which antibiotic to choose requires appropriate examination and evaluation by a doctor. It is not appropriate for some parents to arbitrarily give their children Augmentin (or other antibiotics) according to old prescriptions or prescriptions of other patients with similar symptoms.

2. Dosage of Augmentin for Children

Dosage of Augmentin for children is calculated based on the child's age, weight, kidney function and severity of the infection.
The manufacturer's recommendations for oral doses of Augmentin for children are as follows:
For children under 12 years of age or weighing no more than 40 kg: 40 mg/5 mg/kg body weight/day up to 80 mg/day. 10 mg/kg body weight/day, depending on the severity of the infection (not to exceed 3000 mg/375 mg per day), in 3 divided doses; For children over 12 years old or weighing more than 40 kg: can be used according to the adult dose. However, depending on the specific case, the doctor may use a different dose than the one recommended above. In all cases, parents need to follow the instructions of the treating doctor. If there are any concerns regarding the dosage, parents should discuss with the doctor directly for a detailed explanation, to avoid self-adjusting the dose leading to treatment failure or increasing side effects of the drug.

3. Augmentin should be taken before or after meals?

Absorption of Augmentin is optimal when taken at the beginning of a meal. In addition, some children may experience digestive upset side effects after taking Augmentin, including nausea and diarrhea, especially when taking high doses.
Thus, to minimize the disorders in the gastrointestinal tract and facilitate the best absorption of the drug, parents should give the child the medicine at the beginning of a meal or with a snack. When a child notices signs of a serious reaction in the gastrointestinal tract or signs of an allergic reaction (such as itching, rash, swelling of the eyes, mouth, difficulty breathing, etc.), parents should take the child to the doctor. doctor for timely diagnosis and treatment.

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