DD is a 13-year-old adolescent boy who is brought to the clinic with a weeklong history of

Question

productive cough, rhinorrhea, and congestion. The child’s temperature last night was 39°C
(102.2°F) by electronic axial thermometer. Mom reports to have given the child several doses of
acetaminophen, but symptoms did not improve and thus she brought him to be seen. Patient has
history of allergic rhinitis and eczema. The pediatrician diagnoses DD with community-acquired
pneumonia requiring antibiotic treatment and asks you to develop a treatment care plan for DD
including use of cefdinir 14 mg/kg/dose by mouth divided twice a day for 10 days.
What additional information would you need to develop an appropriate treatment care plan for
DD?
Mom asks you if acetaminophen was the right choice for DD’s fever and pain and if other
options such as aspirin could be used instead. What would you recommend for pain and fever
for DD? Why?
The medical assistant provides you DD’s weight as 85.8 lb (39 kg). Mom states that DD would
prefer a liquid form as he is still working on swallowing pills. Cefdinir is available as a 125 mg/5
mL or 250 mg /5 mL suspension. What is the most appropriate dosage strength and calculated
dose of cefdinir for DD?
Two days later, Mom calls the clinic stating that DD did not like the taste of cefdinir and would
like to change to a capsule or tablet. Cefdinir comes as a 300-mg capsule. Explain whether or
not this change is appropriat

Answer 1

Additional information needed to develop an appropriate treatment care plan for DD would include any drug allergies, current medications, any other medical conditions, and any recent travel history.

For pain and fever in DD, acetaminophen is the preferred choice over aspirin due to the risk of Reye's syndrome in children with viral infections. Acetaminophen is safe and effective for reducing fever and pain in children.

Since DD prefers a liquid form, the most appropriate dosage strength of cefdinir would be the 125 mg/5 mL suspension. With DD's weight of 39 kg, the calculated dose of cefdinir would be 546 mg per dose, which would be 4.37 mL of the 125 mg/5 mL suspension twice a day for 10 days.

Changing to a capsule or tablet form of cefdinir may not be appropriate for DD if he has difficulty swallowing pills. It is important to consider the patient's preferences and abilities when choosing a medication formulation.