What is the pediatric dose of acetaminophen in mg/kg?

What is the pediatric dose of acetaminophen in mg/kg?

• A. 5 mg/kg
• B. 10 mg/kg
• C. 15 mg/kg
• D. 20 mg/kg

Answer: (C)

Dosing acetaminophen in children is done by weight and given per dose at regular intervals, with a limit on total daily amount. The standard per‑dose amount is 15 mg per kilogram, administered every 4 to 6 hours as needed, while keeping the daily total within recommended safety limits. This 15 mg/kg per dose range provides effective fever reduction and analgesia with an acceptable safety margin when the 24‑hour total dose is not exceeded. The lower 5 mg/kg per dose is usually subtherapeutic; while 10 mg/kg per dose can be used in some regimens, 15 mg/kg is the commonly cited single-dose recommendation; 20 mg/kg per dose goes above the standard per‑dose guideline and raises the risk of toxicity with repeated dosing.

Dosing acetaminophen in children is done by weight and given per dose at regular intervals, with a limit on total daily amount. The standard per‑dose amount is 15 mg per kilogram, administered every 4 to 6 hours as needed, while keeping the daily total within recommended safety limits. This 15 mg/kg per dose range provides effective fever reduction and analgesia with an acceptable safety margin when the 24‑hour total dose is not exceeded. The lower 5 mg/kg per dose is usually subtherapeutic; while 10 mg/kg per dose can be used in some regimens, 15 mg/kg is the commonly cited single-dose recommendation; 20 mg/kg per dose goes above the standard per‑dose guideline and raises the risk of toxicity with repeated dosing.