A 2-year-old boy has been prescribed paracetamol 120 mg/5 mL for fever. What is the appropriate single dose?

• A. 5 mL per dose
• B. 7.5 mL per dose
• C. 10 mL per dose
• D. 2.5 mL per dose

Answer: (B)

Paracetamol dosing in children is based on body weight, aiming for about 10–15 mg/kg per dose every 4–6 hours, not exceeding daily maximum. The suspension here provides 120 mg in 5 mL, which is 24 mg per mL. For a child around 12 kg, a common target per-dose amount is 15 mg/kg, which equals 180 mg. Converting to milliliters: 180 mg ÷ 24 mg/mL = 7.5 mL per dose. So 7.5 mL delivers the appropriate 180 mg, fitting the weight-based dosing guideline. The other volumes would give lower or higher doses per kg than the typical target, either under-treating or risking excess per-dose.