Acetaminophen elixir is ordered at 10 mg/kg PO for a 6-month-old child weighing 10 pounds. The stock is acetaminophen elixir 160 mg/5 mL. What is the correct dose to administer in milliliters?

Acetaminophen elixir is ordered at 10 mg/kg PO for a 6-month-old child weighing 10 pounds. The stock is acetaminophen elixir 160 mg/5 mL. What is the correct dose to administer in milliliters?

• A. 1.4 ml
• B. 2.3 ml
• C. 1.42 ml
• D. 1.1 ml

Answer: (C)

This question tests converting a weight-based dose into a liquid volume using the medication’s strength. Start by turning the child’s weight into kilograms: 10 lb × 0.4536 kg/lb ≈ 4.54 kg. The order is 10 mg per kg, so the dose needed is 10 mg/kg × 4.54 kg ≈ 45.4 mg. The acetaminophen elixir is 160 mg in 5 mL, which is 32 mg per mL. To find the corresponding volume, divide the required mg by mg per mL: 45.4 mg ÷ 32 mg/mL ≈ 1.416 mL, which rounds to about 1.42 mL. So the correct administration volume is approximately 1.42 mL. (Using 1.4 mL would be close but slightly under the exact calculation; 1.1 mL or 2.3 mL would yield notably different amounts.)

This question tests converting a weight-based dose into a liquid volume using the medication’s strength. Start by turning the child’s weight into kilograms: 10 lb × 0.4536 kg/lb ≈ 4.54 kg. The order is 10 mg per kg, so the dose needed is 10 mg/kg × 4.54 kg ≈ 45.4 mg.

The acetaminophen elixir is 160 mg in 5 mL, which is 32 mg per mL. To find the corresponding volume, divide the required mg by mg per mL: 45.4 mg ÷ 32 mg/mL ≈ 1.416 mL, which rounds to about 1.42 mL.

So the correct administration volume is approximately 1.42 mL. (Using 1.4 mL would be close but slightly under the exact calculation; 1.1 mL or 2.3 mL would yield notably different amounts.)