Peds dosing
Formal Definition
Weight-based medication dosing calculated in mg/kg (or mcg/kg) for pediatric patients; distinct from adult dosing in that most medications are not dosed as fixed adult doses but rather scaled to the child's weight to account for developmental differences in pharmacokinetics, organ maturity, and body composition.
How It's Used on the Ward
"Weight-based dosing" or "peds dose" or "mg per kilo" — calculating drug doses based on the child's weight rather than giving adult doses.
Example
""9-month-old, weight 8kg, febrile to 39.5C: acetaminophen 15mg/kg = 120mg PO. Ibuprofen 10mg/kg = 80mg PO. Amoxicillin for otitis media: 90mg/kg/day divided q8h = 240mg per dose. Always calculate dose, write units (mg not mL), and confirm with the Broselow tape or pediatric pharmacy.""
Clinical Context
Broselow tape: color-coded pediatric resuscitation tape that estimates weight from height and provides pre-calculated emergency drug doses — the standard tool in pediatric resuscitation. Common errors: confusing mg/kg dose with total dose, calculating mL instead of mg, using adult doses for children. Maximum doses: pediatric dosing is capped at adult doses when weight exceeds threshold (e.g., acetaminophen max 1g per dose regardless of weight). Neonates and infants: unique pharmacokinetics — immature liver (CYP enzymes), immature renal function, different volume of distribution. Avoid aspirin in children under 18 (Reye syndrome). Developmental categories: neonate (0-28 days), infant (1-12 months), toddler (1-3 years), child (3-12 years), adolescent (12-18 years).
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