Question

A health care professional is talking to a patient about giving the correct dose of acetaminophen (Tylenol) to the patient's infant. The health care professional explains that infants can absorb certain drugs at different rates than adults. Which of the following is a physiologic characteristic of infants that can alter drug absorption?

A. delayed gastric emptying
B. increased gastric acidity
C. increased first-pass effect

Answer 1

Delayed gastric emptying is a physiologic characteristic of infants that can alter drug absorption.

Step-by-step explanation:

One of the physiologic characteristics of infants that can alter drug absorption is delayed gastric emptying. In infants, the process of emptying the stomach and releasing its contents into the intestine is slower compared to adults. This can affect the absorption of drugs taken orally as they may spend more time in the stomach, leading to a delay in their effects. Additionally, because infants have higher gastric pH levels, it can also affect the dissolution and absorption of certain drugs.