For a 4-year-old child with fever, which paracetamol dosing is suitable?

For a 4-year-old child with fever, which paracetamol dosing is suitable?

• A. 5 ml every 8 hours
• B. 10 ml every 4-6 hours (maximum 4 doses per day)
• C. 15 ml every 6-8 hours
• D. 20 ml every 4 hours

Answer: (B)

Pediatric dosing for paracetamol is weight-based: a common dose is about 15 mg per kilogram per dose, given every 4 to 6 hours as needed, with a maximum of four doses in 24 hours (roughly 60 mg/kg/day). If the suspension is 120 mg per 5 mL, then 10 mL per dose delivers about 240 mg, which for a typical 4-year-old child (roughly 16 kg) equals about 15 mg/kg per dose. This fits the recommended per-dose amount, with dosing every 4–6 hours and a maximum of four doses per day, keeping daily intake around the safe limit. The other options are not appropriate: a smaller 5 mL dose would be about 120 mg per dose (roughly 7.5 mg/kg for a 16 kg child), which is subtherapeutic. A 15 mL dose (~360 mg, ~22–23 mg/kg per dose) exceeds the recommended per-dose limit. A 20 mL dose (~480 mg, ~30 mg/kg per dose) greatly exceeds safe per-dose and daily totals.

Pediatric dosing for paracetamol is weight-based: a common dose is about 15 mg per kilogram per dose, given every 4 to 6 hours as needed, with a maximum of four doses in 24 hours (roughly 60 mg/kg/day).

If the suspension is 120 mg per 5 mL, then 10 mL per dose delivers about 240 mg, which for a typical 4-year-old child (roughly 16 kg) equals about 15 mg/kg per dose. This fits the recommended per-dose amount, with dosing every 4–6 hours and a maximum of four doses per day, keeping daily intake around the safe limit.

The other options are not appropriate: a smaller 5 mL dose would be about 120 mg per dose (roughly 7.5 mg/kg for a 16 kg child), which is subtherapeutic. A 15 mL dose (360 mg, ~22–23 mg/kg per dose) exceeds the recommended per-dose limit. A 20 mL dose (480 mg, ~30 mg/kg per dose) greatly exceeds safe per-dose and daily totals.