Which patient would have the lowest rate of absorption of enteral medications?

Which patient would have the lowest rate of absorption of enteral medications?

• A. A newborn
• B. A 5-year-old boy
• C. A 25-year-old adult
• D. An elderly woman

Answer: (B)

Absorption of enteral meds is shaped by how fast the stomach empties and how the intestines move contents, both of which change with age. In school-age children, gastric emptying and intestinal transit are more variable as the GI tract matures and as meals and activity influence digestion. That variability can lead to a slower and more erratic rate of drug absorption compared with adults, and even with newborns or the elderly in some cases. So, among the given ages, a 5-year-old would be expected to have the lowest rate of absorption for enteral medications in this context. In practice, age-related GI changes are important to anticipate when planning dosing and monitoring effects.

Absorption of enteral meds is shaped by how fast the stomach empties and how the intestines move contents, both of which change with age. In school-age children, gastric emptying and intestinal transit are more variable as the GI tract matures and as meals and activity influence digestion. That variability can lead to a slower and more erratic rate of drug absorption compared with adults, and even with newborns or the elderly in some cases. So, among the given ages, a 5-year-old would be expected to have the lowest rate of absorption for enteral medications in this context. In practice, age-related GI changes are important to anticipate when planning dosing and monitoring effects.