Mebendazole Dosing Calculation for 14kg Child
Yes, 7 mL is the correct dose for a 14kg child receiving mebendazole 10mg/kg/dose using a 100mg/5mL suspension.
Dose Calculation Verification
The mathematical calculation is straightforward:
- Prescribed dose: 10 mg/kg/dose
- Child's weight: 14 kg
- Total dose needed: 10 mg/kg × 14 kg = 140 mg
Using the 100mg/5mL suspension:
- Concentration: 100 mg per 5 mL = 20 mg/mL
- Volume required: 140 mg ÷ 20 mg/mL = 7 mL
Clinical Context for Mebendazole Dosing
The 10 mg/kg dosing you're using is not the standard recommended dose for most helminthic infections in children. Current guidelines recommend different dosing strategies:
Standard Single-Dose Regimens
- For Ascariasis: The UK guidelines recommend either albendazole 400 mg OR mebendazole 500 mg as a single dose 1
- For a 14kg child: This would be approximately 25 mL of the 100mg/5mL suspension (500 mg total) as a single dose
Alternative Dosing Considerations
- The 10 mg/kg dosing (140 mg for your 14kg child) is substantially lower than the recommended 500 mg single dose 1
- Recent evidence shows mebendazole 500 mg single dose achieves egg reduction rates of 95-98% against Ascaris lumbricoides 2, 3
- Lower doses may result in suboptimal efficacy, particularly for hookworm infections where even 500 mg shows modest cure rates (27-29%) 2
Important Clinical Caveats
If you're treating a specific helminthic infection, verify the indication:
- The standard pediatric dose for most soil-transmitted helminths is 500 mg as a single dose, not weight-based dosing 1
- Weight-based dosing at 10 mg/kg may be appropriate for certain off-label indications or specific protocols, but this is not the guideline-recommended approach for common parasitic infections
- For hookworm specifically, even the standard 500 mg dose shows limited cure rates, and multiple doses or alternative agents may be needed 2
While your calculation of 7 mL is mathematically correct for 10 mg/kg in a 14kg child, strongly consider whether the standard 500 mg single dose (25 mL) would be more appropriate based on current evidence-based guidelines 1.