Perform Mensuration

and Calculation
In calculating dosages for pediatric
patients keep these in mind:
•Children are completely different from adults.
•Inaccurate dosage is more likely to harm a child
that of an adult.
•Children are more sensitive than adults to
medication because of their weight, height,
physical condition, immature systems, and
metabolism.
 Administering Pediatric Oral
Drugs
•Infants and young children are given oral
drugs in the form of liquid.
•In some cases wherein liquid medicines are
not available, tablet may be crushed and
mixed it with a little amount of liquid.
•The child will not get the entire dose if the
medication is mixed in a large amount of
liquid.
 Devices used in giving out
pediatric oral drugs
•Cup – It can be used by children.
•Dropper – It is usually used for infants.
•Syringe – it is usually used for infants.
•Hollow-handle spoon – it is usually used
for toddlers.
Methods to Calculate Pediatric Doses
1.Body Surface Area (BSA)
- Also called as the dosage-per-kilogram-
of-body weight method.
- most accurate and safest method in
calculating pediatric dose.
- A nonogram is a graphical calculating
device, a two-dimensional diagram designed
to allow the approximate graphical
computation of a function to determine the
child’s BSA.
 Formula for computing child’s dose

(
Child’s dose in mg=average adult dose )
Child’s BSA in m2
average adult BSA

NOTE: Average adult BSA is equal to 1.73 m2

 Example:
Compute the child’s dose who
weighs 40 lbs. and 36 inches tall.
What is the safe drug dose if the
average adult dose is 500 mg?
Using the nomogram, the child’s
BSA is 0.72 m 2
 Solution:
0.72m2
Child’s dose= 500mg( 1.73m2 )
Child’s dose = 500mg (.42)
Child’s dose = 210 mg
 Try this:
Compute the child’s dose who
weighs 20 lbs. and 30 inches tall.
What is the safe drug dose if the
average adult dose is 500 mg?
Using the nomogram, the child’s
BSA is 0.47 m2

( )
NOTE: Average adult BSA is equal to 1.73 m2
 Solution:
0.47m2
Child’s dose= 500mg( 1.73m2 )
Child’s dose = 500mg (.27)
Child’s dose = 135 mg
Methods to Calculate Pediatric Doses
2. Clark’s Rule
- It uses child’s weight to calculate
approximate dosage.
- It uses weight in lbs., Never in kg.

Formula:
Approximate child’s dose=average adult dose ( Child’s weight
150 lbs )
 Example:
Compute for a 2-year old child’s
dose who weighs 28 lbs. wherein
the adult dose is 500 mg.
 Solution:
Approximate child’s dose =
500mg
( 28 lbs.
150 lbs )
Approximate child’s dose = 500mg (.19)
Approximate child’s dose = 95 mg
 Try this:
Compute for a 3-year old child’s
dose who weighs 68 lbs. wherein
the adult dose is 500 mg.

Formula: Child’s weight

Approximate child’s dose=average adult dose ( 150 lbs.
)
 Solution:
Approximate child’s dose =
500mg
( 68 lbs.
150 lbs )
Approximate child’s dose = 500mg (.45)
Approximate child’s dose = 225 mg
Methods to Calculate Pediatric Doses
3. Young’s Rule
-It normally applies to children who are
two years of age and above.
- the word “young” refers to the age.

Formula:
[ Child’s age in the year
Approximate child’s dose = adult dose (child’s age in the year + 12) ]
 Example:
Compute for a 2-year old child’s
dose who weighs 28 lbs. wherein
the adult dose is 500 mg. Note that
the weight has no bearing using
Young’s Rule.
 Solution:
Approximate child’s dose =
500mg 2
[ (2+12) ]
Approximate child’s dose = 500mg( 2
14 )
Approximate child’s dose = 500mg (.14)
Approximate child’s dose = 70 mg
 Try this:
Compute for a 5-year old child’s
dose who weighs 68 lbs. wherein
the adult dose is 500 mg.

Formula:
[ Child’s age in the year
Approximate child’s dose = adult dose (child’s age in the year + 12) ]
 Solution:
Approximate child’s dose =
500mg 5
[ (5+12) ]
Approximate child’s dose = 500mg( 5
17
)
Approximate child’s dose = 500mg (.29)
Approximate child’s dose = 145 mg
Methods to Calculate Pediatric Doses
4. Fried’s Rule
-It calculates doses for children who are
two years of age and less.
- It uses age in months.

Formula: Child’s age x 12 months

Approximate child’s dose = adult dose [ 150 ]
 Example:
Compute for a 2-year old child’s
dose who weighs 28 lbs. wherein
the adult dose is 500 mg.
 Solution:
Child’s dose= 500mg [ 2 x 12
150
]
Child’s dose = 500mg 24
[ ]
150
Child’s dose = 500 mg (.16)
Child’s dose = 80 mg
 Try this:
Compute for a 1 1/2-year old
child’s dose who weighs 68 lbs.
wherein the adult dose is 500 mg.

Formula:
Approximate child’s dose = adult dose [ ]
(Child’s age x 12 month)
150
 Solution:
Child’s dose= 500mg [ ]
1.5 x 12
150
18
Child’s dose = 500mg
[ ]150
Child’s dose = 500 mg (.12)
Child’s dose = 60 mg
 Administering Medicine to the
patient
•A caregiver or a home nurse
should read the doctor's
prescription.
• A prescription is a written
instruction of the doctor on the
preparation and use of medicine.
Doctor's code in prescribing the
time intervals to observe in the
administration and use of
medicine
•- qd = once a day -q4h = every 4 hrs.
•- bid = twice a day -q6h = every 6 hrs.
•- tid = thrice a day -q8h = every 8 hrs.
•- qid = 4x a day -pc = after meals
•- ac = before meals -hs = at bedtime
 Things that should be
remembered when administering
medicines:
1. The right medicine
2. The right amount of medicine
3. The right approach
4. At the right time
5. Right route
6. Right patient
Expiration of Medicines
Medicine's effectivity lasts only up
to a certain period of time.
A medicine that has reached its
expiration should no longer be
administered, it is no longer safe
and may cause serious harm.
 Disposal of Medicines
Medicines that are expired or no longer
needed must be discarded by:
-flushing down the toilet
-washing down the drain
Syringe
• -wrap it and the needle in a piece of
paper, plastic/container
• -place in a puncture proof container
before putting in a tash can
The Generics Law