A child is prescribed ciprofloxacin 40 mg/kg/day, 4 doses daily. If the child weighs 15 kg, calculate the amount of one dose.

Explanation

• Most drugs in children are dosed according to body weight (mg/kg) or body surface area (BSA) (mg/m2).
• Calculating the size of a single dose is based on the recommended dosage (in milligrams per kilogram per day) and a child’s weight. The nurse is not usually required to do this calculation. 

• A child is prescribed  ciprofloxacin. The recommended dosage is 40 mg/kg/day, 4 doses daily. If the child’s weight is 15 kg, calculate the size of a single dose.

  15 kg × 40 mg/kg/day = 600 mg/day

  Then

  600 mg ÷ 4 doses = 150 mg/dose

Additional Information Young's Rule is an equation used to calculate pediatric medication dosage based on the patient's age and the known recommended adult dose. 

Young`s rule = 𝐴𝑔𝑒 (𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟) /𝐴𝑔𝑒 in 𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟 + 12 × 𝑎𝑑𝑢𝑙𝑡 𝑑𝑜𝑠e

Clark's rule equation is defined as the weight of the patient in pounds divided by the average standard weight of 150 pounds (68 kg) multiplied by the adult dose of a drug equals the pediatric medication dose, as is demonstrated below: (Weight* divided by 150 lbs.) x Adult Dose** = Pediatric Dosage.

Fried's rule is a method of estimating the dose of medication for a child by dividing the child's age in months by 150 and multiplying the result by the adult dose.