Question

Which of the following information should health care professionals consider when calculating drug dosages for infants and children compared with adults?

A. percent of body fat is greater in children than in adults
B. infants have a smaller body surface area than adults
C. urine is more concentrated in infants than in adults
D. older children can have a faster metabolic rate than adults.

Answer 1

Health care professionals should consider body size, urine concentration, and metabolic rate when calculating drug dosages for infants and children compared with adults.

Step-by-step explanation:

When calculating drug dosages for infants and children compared with adults, health care professionals should consider several factors:

1. Infants have a smaller body surface area than adults. This means that the dosage for infants should be adjusted to their smaller size to avoid toxicity.
2. Urine is more concentrated in infants than in adults. This means that infants may require smaller doses or more frequent dosing intervals to ensure adequate drug levels.
3. Older children can have a faster metabolic rate than adults. This means that some drugs may be metabolized more quickly in older children, requiring higher doses to achieve therapeutic levels.

In summary, health care professionals need to consider the differences in body size, urine concentration, and metabolic rate when calculating drug dosages for infants and children compared with adults.