Paracetamol Dosing for a 10kg, 4-Month-Old Infant
For a 10kg, 4-month-old infant using paracetamol 100mg/ml syrup, give 1.5 ml per dose (15mg/kg), administered every 4-6 hours, with a maximum of 4 doses in 24 hours (total daily dose not exceeding 60mg/kg/day or 600mg/day). 1, 2
Dose Calculation
- Weight-based dosing: The recommended single dose is 10-15 mg/kg 1, 2
- For this 10kg infant: 10-15 mg/kg = 100-150 mg per dose 1
- Volume calculation with 100mg/ml concentration:
- Minimum dose: 100mg ÷ 100mg/ml = 1.0 ml
- Optimal dose: 150mg ÷ 100mg/ml = 1.5 ml 1
Dosing Schedule
- Frequency: Every 4-6 hours as needed 2, 3
- Maximum doses: 4 doses per 24 hours 2, 3
- Maximum daily dose: 60 mg/kg/day (600mg total for this 10kg child) 2, 4
Age-Specific Considerations for 4-Month-Old Infants
- At 4 months of age, standard pediatric dosing applies (10-15 mg/kg per dose) 1, 2
- Infants 3 months and older can safely receive the full recommended dose range 5
- For infants 1-3 months, lower doses of 60-65 mg/kg/day are sometimes suggested, but at 4 months the standard dosing is appropriate 5
Safety Parameters
- Single dose toxicity threshold: Avoid exceeding 20 mg/kg per dose 4
- Daily toxicity threshold: Chronic exposure exceeding 90-140 mg/kg/day for several days carries risk of hepatotoxicity 2, 5
- The recommended dosing (60 mg/kg/day maximum) provides a substantial safety margin 2
Important Clinical Caveats
- Record all doses carefully to avoid inadvertently exceeding the maximum recommended daily dose, which occurred in 8% of cases in one study 3
- Consider using a dosing chart to track administration times 3
- Paracetamol is well-tolerated at recommended doses with few side effects 2
- If fever persists or the child appears seriously unwell, medical evaluation is warranted rather than continued antipyretic use alone 3