STEADY-STATE OF CHLORAMPHENICOL IN MALNOURISHED CHILDREN

The steady-state blood levels of chloramphenicol were determined at 2 fixed points in relation to dose administration in 35 children with various infective diseases and examined in relation to the nutritional status. Fourteen children were on oral therapy and 21 on i.v. therapy. There were significantly higher blood levels of the drug in children with severe degree of malnutrition (16.57 .+-. 2.21 and 23.68 .+-. 2.51 .mu.g/ml), as compared to those with mild PCM [protein calorie malnutrition] (9.67 .+-. 0.88 and 16.04 .+-. 1.42 .mu.g/ml) at 2 observation points when the drug was given orally. Similar differences were evident in the 2 groups when the drug was given i.v. Chloramphenicol dosage evidently needs to be modified according to the child''s nutritional status.