Dosage Calculation 3.0 Pediatric Medications

Maintenance Fluid Requirements

• Daily fluid requirements for children vary based on weight:
  • A school-age child weighing 35 kg needs 1,800 mL/day.
  • A preschool-age child weighing 18 kg requires 1,400 mL/day.
  • A toddler weighing 13.5 kg has a requirement of 1,175 mL/day.
  • An infant weighing 6 kg needs 600 mL/day.
  • A school-age child weighing 22 kg requires 1,540 mL/day.
  • An adolescent weighing 57 kg has a daily maintenance of 2,240 mL/day.

Medication Administration

• Clindamycin: Administer 3 mL for a toddler weighing 30 lb, with a dosage of 10 mg/kg PO.
• Furosemide: For an infant weighing 12 lb, provide 1.1 mL using a solution of 10 mg/mL.
• Morphine: Administer 0.3 mL for a newborn weighing 3 kg, with a dosage of 0.05 mg/kg IV.
• Dexamethasone: A school-age child weighing 50 lb should receive 34 mL based on a 0.3 mg/kg/day dosage.
• Famotidine: For a child weighing 41 lb, administer 1.2 mL based on 1 mg/kg/day dosage.

IV Infusions

• Dextrose 5% in water (D5W) infusion for a 57 kg adolescent should be set at 285 mL/hr over 4 hours.
• For a weight of 8 kg, 0.9% NaCl should be infused at 24 mL/hr over 2 hours.
• 0.9% NaCl infusion for a 22 kg school-age child is set at 41 mL/hr over 8 hours.
• Dextrose 5% in water infusion for an 11 kg toddler is 13 mL/hr over 6 hours.
• Lactated Ringer's solution for a 14 kg toddler infuses at 29 mL/hr over 12 hours.

Weight Conversion

• Convert 13 lb 8 oz infant weight to 6.1 kg.
• An infant weighing 9 lb 4 oz equals 4.2 kg.
• A preschool-age child weighing 44 lb converts to 20 kg.
• An adolescent weighing 120 lb converts to 54.5 kg.

Safe Administration Practices

• Always confirm chemotherapy dosages using a body surface area nomogram.
• For IM injections in infants, do not exceed 1 mL.
• During administration of immunizations to preschoolers, engaging activities like blowing bubbles can help ease the process.
• After giving medication to a 6-month-old infant, offering a feeding may enhance comfort.

Guidelines for Injection Techniques

• Use a 25-gauge needle for IM injections in a 2-month-old infant.