What is the actual dose of paracetamol (acetaminophen) in a 5ml dose of 120mg/5ml paracetamol syrup for a child weighing 26.3 kilograms?

Paracetamol Dose Calculation

The actual dose of paracetamol delivered in 5 mL of a 120mg/5mL syrup is 120 mg, which is appropriate for a 26.3 kg child as it falls within the recommended therapeutic range of 10-15 mg/kg per dose.

Dose Calculation

• The concentration of the syrup is 120 mg per 5 mL 1
• Therefore, 5 mL of this syrup contains exactly 120 mg of paracetamol 1
• For a child weighing 26.3 kg, this represents approximately 4.6 mg/kg per dose (120 mg ÷ 26.3 kg) 2

Appropriateness of This Dose

• The recommended oral dose for children is 15 mg/kg every 4 hours, up to a maximum of 60 mg/kg/day 2
• For a 26.3 kg child, the optimal single dose would be approximately 395 mg (15 mg/kg × 26.3 kg) 2
• The 120 mg dose being administered (5 mL) is below the optimal therapeutic dose but still within acceptable range 2
• This dose could be given more frequently (every 4 hours) to achieve adequate pain relief or fever reduction, staying well below the maximum daily dose of 1,578 mg (60 mg/kg/day for 26.3 kg) 2

Administration Recommendations

• Use an appropriate measuring device such as a 5-mL oral syringe for accurate measurement 1
• Paracetamol may be given with or without food, though administration with meals may improve gastrointestinal tolerability 3
• The dose can be repeated every 4-6 hours as needed, not exceeding 60 mg/kg/day total 2

Clinical Consideration

• If 120 mg proves insufficient for symptom control, the dose could be increased to 10-15 mg/kg (263-395 mg per dose for this child), which would require a different concentration or volume of syrup 2
• Ibuprofen may be considered as second-line treatment if paracetamol is ineffective 1