Pediatric doses are calculated as gms/kg body weight/day. But these complicated caluculation based on body weight are best left to pediatricians and in general practice simple rules and caluculation are followed. Catzel’s rule 10-15 years – ¾ of adult dose6- 8 years - ½ of adult doe.3-4 years – 1/3 of adult dose.1-2 years – ¼ of adult dise.<1 years – 1/8 of adult dose. To make it more simple, for 6-10 years it’s ½ dose and for 1-3 years, its ¼ dose. Practical hints. Most pediatric medicines are available in syrup forms and generally have following dosage: 3-6 years (montessary age) = 1 tst tds.1-3 years = ½ tsp tds.<1 years = 1ml or 10 drops tds.6-10 years = 2 tsp tds or ½ adult tabs. For adolescent children, give adult tablets in reduced dose.Give minimum medications to children. Avoid too may medicines, because usually it is a very difficult job to feed medicines to children.Avoid injection to children, as far as possible. Tablets may be crushed and dissolved in water or given with spoon of Honey. For infants medicines are best given with dropper. For children resisting to take medicines feeding with spoon is very difficult. Use a 5cc plastic syringe (without needle), the tip can be placed between the teeth – even if the child holds the mouth shut, and th drug is pushed over the tongue. In the chart below- we will see the prescriptions of common drugs for common complaints- for various age groups, These are of course rough guidelines, the doses should be adjusted according to the built and weight.
