A 2-year-old child with a fever is prescribed amoxicillin clavulanate 250 mg/5 mL 3 times daily by mouth for 10 days for otitis media. Which is the priority teaching instruction for the parents of this child?

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It is important to emphasize to the parents that the full course of antibiotics should be completed, even if the child appears to be feeling better. This ensures that the infection is completely eradicated and helps to prevent the development of antibiotic-resistant organisms. It is also important to provide instructions on how to properly measure the medication using a dosing spoon or syringe, as the use of a household teaspoon can result in inaccurate dosing. Spreading the doses evenly throughout the day is also important but not the priority teaching point in this scenario. Finally, stopping the antibiotic when the child is afebrile can result in incomplete treatment and a recurrence of the infection.

A 2-Year-Old Child with a Fever Is Prescribed Amoxicillin Clavulanate