Prescribing Skills (Part 5 of 8 - Drug Calculation Skills)

You have been asked to prescribe IV aciclovir for a 6 year old child with herpes simplex. Have a look at the BNF for Children yourself to obtain the dosing regime.

You find that the recommended dose is 250 mg/m² every 8 hours usually for 5 days. His weight is 20 kg and his height is 1.15 m. You refer to the 'Body Surface Area in Chilren' page in the BNF for children, and learn that the surface area for children weighing 20 kg is0.79m².

How much aciclovir should you prescribe?

You have been asked to prescribe an IV infusion of paracetamol for a 10 year old who weighs 34.5 kg. You have a look at the BNF and find the recommended dose for a child with body weight under 50 kg is 15 mg/kg every 4–6 hours to a maximum of 60 mg/kg daily.

How much paracetamol will you prescribe for this young child, keeping in mind they come in 10 mg/mL vials of 50mls and 100mls.