The nurse is administering medications to assigned pediatric clients. Why should the nurse monitor these clients for medication sensitivity?

Question

1. Children have immature kidneys and livers.
2. Children will spit out most medications.
3. Children metabolize medications more quickly than do adults.
4. Children need higher dosages for drugs to be effective.

Answer 1

Answer: 1

1. The kidney and liver of a child are immature, and drugs are processed and excreted differently than they are by adults, making the child more likely to experience a reaction to the drug.
2. The danger with drug administration to a child is adverse reaction, not that the child might spit out the drug.
3. Children might metabolize drugs more slowly than do adults due to immature kidneys and livers.
4. Children need lower dosages of medications due to their size and potential slower processing of medications.