Paracetamol Dosing for a 1-Year-Old Weighing 13.8 kg
For a 1-year-old child weighing 13.8 kg, administer 0.7 mL of paracetamol 100mg/mL solution (equivalent to 70 mg) every 4-6 hours as needed, not exceeding 4 doses in 24 hours (maximum 280 mg/day).
Weight-Based Dosing Calculation
- The recommended pediatric dose is 10-15 mg/kg per dose, with a maximum daily dose of 60 mg/kg/day divided into 4-6 doses 1
- For this 13.8 kg child:
- Minimum single dose: 10 mg/kg × 13.8 kg = 138 mg (1.4 mL of 100mg/mL solution)
- Maximum single dose: 15 mg/kg × 13.8 kg = 207 mg (2.1 mL of 100mg/mL solution)
- Maximum daily dose: 60 mg/kg × 13.8 kg = 828 mg total per day 1
Practical Dosing Recommendation
- Start with 10 mg/kg (138 mg or 1.4 mL) every 4-6 hours as this provides adequate analgesia and antipyresis while minimizing toxicity risk 1
- The dose can be increased toward 15 mg/kg if pain or fever control is inadequate, but this should be done cautiously 1
- Never exceed 4 doses in 24 hours to stay well below the maximum daily threshold 1
Administration Considerations
- Use an oral syringe for accurate measurement - this is critical in young children where small volume errors can lead to significant dosing errors 2
- Oral absorption is rapid, with onset of action within 30-60 minutes and peak effect at 1-2 hours 3
- The dosing interval of every 4-6 hours aligns with the drug's elimination half-life of approximately 2-2.5 hours and duration of analgesic effect 3
Critical Safety Points
- Hepatotoxicity risk: While paracetamol has an excellent safety profile at therapeutic doses, exceeding 60 mg/kg/day significantly increases the risk of hepatic injury 4, 5
- Avoid combining with other paracetamol-containing products (many over-the-counter cold and flu medications contain paracetamol) 4
- In cases of suspected overdose, early administration of N-acetylcysteine is protective against liver damage 3, 5
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Do not use adult dosing formulas - children under 40 kg require strict weight-based pediatric calculations 6
- Avoid rectal administration if possible - suppositories have erratic and unpredictable absorption in young children, making oral dosing preferable 1, 3
- Do not dose more frequently than every 4 hours - this increases the risk of accumulation and toxicity 1
- Verify the concentration - paracetamol comes in multiple concentrations (100mg/mL, 160mg/5mL, etc.), and dosing errors are common when caregivers confuse formulations 2