The appropriate dose of a medication for children

The appropriate dose of a medication for children can be calculated using various methods, depending on the drug, child's weight, age, or body surface area (BSA). Here are some common equations:

1. Weight-Based Dosage (mg/kg):

$$\text{Dose (mg)} = \text{Dose per kg (mg/kg)} \times \text{Weight (kg)}$$

• Commonly used in pediatric medicine.

2. Body Surface Area (BSA)-Based Dosage (mg/m²):

$$\text{Dose (mg)} = \text{Dose per m² (mg/m²)} \times \text{BSA (m²)}$$

• BSA can be calculated using formulas like Mosteller's:

$$\text{BSA (m²)} = \sqrt{\left(\frac{\text{Height (cm)} \times \text{Weight (kg)}}{3600}\right)}$$

3. Young's Rule (Age-Based):

$$\text{Child's Dose} = \frac{\text{Age (years)}}{\text{Age (years)} + 12} \times \text{Adult Dose}$$

• Suitable for older children.

4. Clark's Rule (Weight-Based, Pounds):

$$\text{Child's Dose} = \frac{\text{Weight (lb)}}{150} \times \text{Adult Dose}$$

• Uses weight in pounds.

5. Fried’s Rule (For Infants):

$$\text{Infant's Dose} = \frac{\text{Age (months)}}{150} \times \text{Adult Dose}$$

Important Notes:

• Always consult a healthcare provider for drug-specific recommendations.
• Many drugs have fixed pediatric dosing guidelines.
• Avoid overdosing, especially with narrow-therapeutic-index drugs.

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