Final answer:
Children have a relatively fast metabolism of drugs compared to adults due to factors such as liver enzymes, liver size, and kidney function.
Step-by-step explanation:
Children have a relatively fast metabolism of drugs compared to adults due to several factors:
- Liver Enzymes: Humans are born with more liver enzymes, such as cytochrome P450 enzymes, which are involved in drug metabolism. As children age, they gradually lose some of these enzymes, leading to a slower metabolism of drugs.
- Liver Size: The proportionately larger size of a child's liver allows for faster drug metabolism. A larger liver means more liver cells available to perform drug metabolism.
- Kidney Function: Children also have more efficient kidney function than adults, which helps to eliminate drugs from the body more rapidly.