Paracetamol Dosage for 18.4kg 8-Year-Old Male with Fever
For an 8-year-old male weighing 18.4kg with fever, administer paracetamol 240 mg (7.5 mL of oral suspension) every 4 hours, not exceeding 5 doses in 24 hours. 1
Weight-Based Dosing Recommendation
This child falls into the FDA-approved dosing category for children 4 to under 6 years of age based on the standard dosing guidelines, which recommends 7.5 mL (240 mg) every 4 hours 1. While the child is 8 years old, weight-based dosing takes precedence over age-based dosing when determining the appropriate paracetamol dose, and at 18.4kg, this child is below the typical weight threshold for older pediatric dosing categories.
Key Dosing Parameters
- Dose: 240 mg (7.5 mL of oral suspension) per administration 1
- Frequency: Every 4 hours as needed for fever 1
- Maximum daily doses: Do not exceed 5 doses in a 24-hour period 1
- Maximum daily amount: 1,200 mg total per day (5 doses × 240 mg) 1
Clinical Considerations
Paracetamol and ibuprofen demonstrate comparable efficacy for fever reduction in children, with both showing similar safety profiles when used at recommended doses 2. However, some evidence suggests ibuprofen may provide slightly more sustained temperature reduction at 4-6 hours post-dose 2. If fever remains refractory to paracetamol monotherapy, alternating with ibuprofen may reduce the proportion of children with persistent fever, though this approach should be reserved for cases where single-agent therapy proves inadequate 3.
Safety Warnings
- Never exceed the recommended dose or frequency - hepatotoxicity can occur with excessive dosing, particularly when combined with alcohol (not applicable in this pediatric case) 4
- Consult a physician if fever persists beyond 3 days or worsens 1
- Paracetamol has a greater margin of safety compared to aspirin at antipyretic dosages in children 5