Protein-Energy Malnutrition Medication

Updated: Mar 11, 2019
  • Author: Hadi Atassi, DO; Chief Editor: Romesh Khardori, MD, PhD, FACP  more...
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Medication

Medication Summary

There is no single medication to treat malnutrition. Management of patients with malnutrition starts with treating any metabolic derangements (eg, hypoglycemia, hypokalemia). If the patient is hypothermic, he or she should be warmed appropriately. If any signs of infection are present, select the appropriate antibiotic regimen.

It is recommend that children requiring inpatient treatment be started on broad spectrum antibiotics. The following is regimens are recommended:

  • Ampicillin 50 mg/kg intramuscularly or intravenously (IM/IV) q6h and gentamicin 7.5mg/kg IM/IV q daily x 7-10 days (Clinicians can consider ceftriaxone 50 mg/kg IM/IV q daily for ill children or those in areas of high rates of antibiotic resistance.)

  • Metronidazole 10-12 mg/kg orally (PO) q8h for those with a long course of diarrhea

  • For oral antibiotics, amoxicillin, amoxicillin clavulanate, or a third-generation cephalosporin