College

What is the correct dosage of a medication for a child with a body surface area (BSA) of 0.8 m², considering that the average adult dosage is 20 mg?

A) Yes, the correct dosage is 5 mg.
B) No, the correct dosage is 10 mg.
C) No, the correct dosage is 15 mg.
D) No, the correct dosage is 25 mg.

Answer :

Final answer:

The correct dosage of a medication for a child with a BSA of 0.8 m², given that the average adult dosage for a BSA of 1.7 m² is 20 mg, can be calculated using a simple proportion. The calculated dosage is approximately 9.41 mg, and the closest available correct option is 10 mg. The option B) is correct.

Explanation:

To calculate the correct dosage of a medication based on the body surface area (BSA) of a child, you can use a proportion based on the fact that the average adult BSA is approximately 1.7 m² and the typical adult dosage is provided as a reference. In this case, the adult dosage is 20 mg for a BSA of 1.7 m².

To find the pediatric dosage for a BSA of 0.8 m², you can set up the following proportion: 20 mg / 1.7 m² = x mg / 0.8 m². By cross-multiplying and solving for x, you get x = (20 mg * 0.8 m²) / 1.7 m². Simplifying this, x ≈ 9.41 mg. Considering the options given, the closest correct dosage for a child with a BSA of 0.8 m² is 10 mg, which corresponds to option B.