Medical History Mysteries: Antibiotics for pediatric patients

March 30, 2022

When prescribing antibiotics for pediatric dental patients, is there a protocol to follow for safe dosing? Drs. Pamela Maragliano-Muniz and Tom Viola talk about what information to find out before you prescribe an antibiotic.

Pamela Maragliano-Muniz, DMD

Tom Viola, RPh, CCP

What antibiotics can we safely prescribe for children? In previous episodes of Medical History Mysteries, we’ve talked about providing local anesthesia for children as well as prescribing analgesics for the pediatric population. Now, let’s move on to antibiotics.

While you may wish there was one antibiotic or one antibacterial agent that would be best for pediatric patients versus adults, that’s simply not the case. The absorption capabilities of children differ from that of adults. When doing dosing adjustments for kids, we never want to make assumptions.

In this video, we’ll talk about how to stay current with the guidelines, what to look for in the patient’s medical history, and what questions we need to ask about allergies and other systemic conditions to be sure the antibiotic is not contraindicated in that patient.

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Editor’s note: This article first appeared in Through the Loupes newsletter, a publication of the Endeavor Business Media Dental Group. Read more articles and subscribe to Through the Loupes.

About the Author

Pamela Maragliano-Muniz, DMD

Pamela Maragliano-Muniz, DMD, is the chief editor of DentistryIQ and editorial co-director of Through the Loupes. Based in Salem, Massachusetts, Dr. Maragliano-Muniz began her clinical career as a dental hygienist. She went on to attend Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, where she earned her doctorate in dental medicine. She then attended the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Dental Medicine, where she became board-certified in prosthodontics. Dr. Maragliano-Muniz owns a private practice, Salem Dental Arts, and lectures on a variety of clinical topics. You may contact her at [email protected].

About the Author

Tom Viola, RPh, CCP

With more than 30 years’ experience as a board-certified pharmacist, clinical educator, professional speaker, and published author, Tom Viola, RPh, CCP, has earned the reputation as the go-to specialist for making pharmacology practical and useful for dental teams. He is the founder of Pharmacology Declassified and is a member of the faculty of more than 10 dental professional degree programs. Viola has contributed to several professional journals and pharmacology textbooks, and currently serves as a consultant to the American Dental Association’s Council on Scientific Affairs.