A 6-year-old child weighing 20 kg is prescribed amoxicillin oral suspension 250 mg/5 mL for acute otitis media. The recommended dose is 20 mg/kg three times daily for 5 days. What volume of amoxicillin oral suspension should be administered per dose?

• A. 4 mL
• B. 8 mL
• C. 16 mL
• D. 12 mL

Answer: (B)

Dosing a pediatric antibiotic often comes down to converting weight-based mg per kg to a practical liquid volume using the medication’s strength.

First, calculate the amount of drug needed per dose: 20 mg/kg × 20 kg = 400 mg per dose. The suspension is 250 mg in 5 mL, which is 50 mg per mL. To obtain 400 mg, you need 400 mg ÷ 50 mg/mL = 8 mL per dose. Since the schedule is three times daily, this amounts to 8 mL per dose, three times a day (24 mL daily).