A 4-year-old child weighing 20 kg is prescribed paracetamol oral suspension 250 mg/5 mL with a dosing guidance of 15 mg/kg per dose every 6 hours, up to four doses in 24 hours. What is the maximum total volume of paracetamol the child can receive in 24 hours?

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Multiple Choice

A 4-year-old child weighing 20 kg is prescribed paracetamol oral suspension 250 mg/5 mL with a dosing guidance of 15 mg/kg per dose every 6 hours, up to four doses in 24 hours. What is the maximum total volume of paracetamol the child can receive in 24 hours?

The key is converting the suspension strength to mg per mL, then applying the weight-based dose and the four-dose limit in 24 hours. The suspension is 250 mg/5 mL, which is 50 mg/mL. The dose per administration for a 20 kg child is 15 mg/kg × 20 kg = 300 mg per dose. At 50 mg/mL, 300 mg requires 300 ÷ 50 = 6 mL per dose. With a maximum of four doses in 24 hours, the total volume is 4 × 6 mL = 24 mL. So, the maximum total volume in 24 hours is 24 mL.

The key is converting the suspension strength to mg per mL, then applying the weight-based dose and the four-dose limit in 24 hours.

The suspension is 250 mg/5 mL, which is 50 mg/mL. The dose per administration for a 20 kg child is 15 mg/kg × 20 kg = 300 mg per dose. At 50 mg/mL, 300 mg requires 300 ÷ 50 = 6 mL per dose. With a maximum of four doses in 24 hours, the total volume is 4 × 6 mL = 24 mL.

So, the maximum total volume in 24 hours is 24 mL.

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