A GLANCE AT

CALCULATING
PEDIATRIC
DOSAGES FOR
ORAL DRUGS
• In calculating drug dosages for
pediatric patients, we have to bear
in mind that children are
completely different from adults.
• An inaccurate dosage is more likely
to harm a child than that of an
adult.
 Administering Pediatric Oral
Drugs
• Infants and young children who can
hardly take tablets or capsules are given
oral drugs in the form of liquid.
• In some cases wherein liquid medicines
are not available, you may crush a tablet
and mix it with a little amount of liquid.
• Important:

• Do not mix crushed tablet with

breast milk and infant formula
because it may lead to feeding
refusal in the future.
Devices Used in Giving Out
Pediatric Oral Drugs
CUP
can be
used by
bigger
children
DROPPER

• usually used for

infants
Syringe
-usually used for
infants
Hollow-handle spoon
• usually
used for
toddlers
 Safety Key Points in Giving
Medications to Children
• Check the child's mouth to
ensure that he has swallowed
the oral drugs.
• Carefully mix oral drugs that
come in suspension form.
Tips in Calculating
Safe Pediatric Drug
Dosages
• Use a calculator in solving equations.
• Ask advice from a formulary or consult a
drug handbook to verify a drug dose. If still
in doubt, call a pharmacist.
• Keep a record of your patient's weight in
kilograms so you do not have to estimate it
or weigh him all the time.
• The class will be grouped into 5,
each group will be going to
present role play on safety tips in
giving medications to children
where they need to add their own
safety tips on giving medications.
Presentation – 8 pts.
Cooperation- 3 pts.
Timeliness- 2 pts.
Creativity- 7 pts.
Total 20 pts
• If you are a Nurse and you
are asked to give oral
pediatric drug to your
patient, what are things you
need to remember?
• Why it is important to
know the different
devices used in
administering pediatric
drug?
Direction:
Write PEDIATRIC if
the statement is
TRUE and DRUG if it
is FALSE
1.An inaccurate dosage is more likely to
harm a child than that of an adult.
2.Keep a record of your patient's weight in
pounds so you do not have to estimate it or
weigh him all the time.
3.Droppers are usually used for adults.
4.Mix crushed tablet with breast milk and
infant formula.
5.Cups are usually used for toddlers.
 Assignment
• Draw the devices used
in administering oral
pediatric drugs and
write its uses.