A 10-year-old girl has been prescribed paracetamol 250 mg/5 mL for toothache. What is the appropriate dose per administration?

• A. One 5 mL spoonful
• B. Two 5 mL spoonfuls
• C. Three 5 mL spoonfuls
• D. Four 5 mL spoonfuls

Answer: (B)

Dosing in children is weight-based: give 10–15 mg of paracetamol per kilogram of body weight per dose, every 4–6 hours as needed, with a daily maximum of about 60 mg/kg or 4 g. The suspension is 250 mg per 5 mL, so each 5 mL is 250 mg.

For a typical 10-year-old girl (often around 32–40 kg), a dose of 500 mg (two 5 mL spoonfuls) equals roughly 12–15 mg/kg, which fits well within the recommended range. A single 250 mg dose would be under-dosing for many children of this age, while 750–1000 mg could approach or exceed the per-dose maximum for heavier children. Thus, two 5 mL spoonfuls (500 mg) is the appropriate single dose.

Remember to space doses 4–6 hours apart as needed and not exceed the daily limit.