Medications and Fluid Management

In pediatrics, medications are dosed specifically to the weight or body surface area of the growing child. These calculations are imperative to therapeutic dosing and prevention of adverse drug reactions. Dehydration is a common issue in children and similar to medications, fluids require weight-based calculations. There are four phases of rehydration—resuscitative, titration, maintenance, and convalescent. Fluid management takes into account the appropriate fluid rate during each rehydration phase, the estimated degree of dehydration and the desired fluid electrolyte composition. This chapter provides a step-by-step guide that simplifies the basics of medications and fluids for pediatric patients. Calculation examples are included for routine dosing of common medications and fluid management.