Question

Neonates, infants and children require different dosages than adults.

(a) True

(b) False

I had been asked this question at a job interview.

My doubt stems from Pharmacokinetic Principles Applications in chapter Applications of Pharmacokinetic Principles, Diuretics, Drug Concentration and Pharmacologic Response of Drug Biotechnology

Answer 1

Right answer is (a) True

The explanation is: Neonates, infants and children require different dosages than adults because differences in body surface area, TBW, and extracellular fluid volume per kg body weight basis. The dose for such patients are calculated on the basis of the surface area of the babies not the body weight basis because surface area correlates better with dosage requirement, cardiac output, renal blood flow and glomerular filtration in children.