Accurate paediatric weight estimation by age: mission impossible? (2024)

FAQs

What is the most accurate way to estimate a child's weight? ›

Background According to the Advanced Paediatric Life Support (APLS) guidelines, the weight of children between the ages of 1 and 10 years can be safely estimated using the formula: weight=2 × (age +4).

For Infants < 12 months: Weight (kg) = (age in months + 9)/2. For Children aged 1-5 years: Weight (kg) = 2 x (age in years + 5) For Children aged 5-14 years: Weight (kg) = 4 x age in years.

Parental weight estimation was the most accurate way to approximate a child's true weight. The next best was the Broselow tape. Why does the matter? It can be difficult to determine a child's weight for drug dosing, etc during resuscitation.

The updated APLS weight for ages 0-12 years:[⁵] Infants 0-12 months: weight (kg) = (0.5 × age in months) + 4. Children 1-5 years: weight (kg) = (2 × age in years) + 8. Children 6-12 years: weight (kg) = (3 × age in years) + 7.

The weight of a 19-29 years old boy should be 83.4 kg, while the weight of a girl should be up to 73.4 kg. Weight of a boy between 30-39 years should be up to 90.3 kg, while the weight of a girl should be up to 76.7 kg. Weight of a 40-49 years old boy should be 90.9 kg, while a girl should weigh 76.2 kg.

American Dietary Association (ADA): the IBW is the 50th percentile weight for age. Traub⁴: for children shorter than 5 ft, the IBW in kilograms is calculated as ([height in inches]² × 1.65)/1000. for boys taller than 5 ft, the IBW in kilograms is calculated as 39 + (2.27 × [height in inches − 60]).

Dosage regimens based entirely on age are often inaccurate and may lead to adverse effects, toxicity or lack of clinical effect. There is a lack of pharmaco*kinetic studies in children of different ages. Weight-based and surface-area-based dosing regimens are simple and are used in most clinical situations.

A young's rule for calculating the dose of medicine correct for a child by adding twelve to the child's age, dividing the sum by the child's age, then dividing the adult dose by the figure obtained, as it expressed beneath: (age in years / age (years) + 12)) × adult dose.

Clark's rule equation is defined as the weight of the patient in pounds divided by the average standard weight of 150 pounds (68 kg) multiplied by the adult dose of a drug to obtain the pediatric medication dose, as is demonstrated below: (Weight* divided by 150 lbs.) x Adult Dose** = Pediatric Dosage.

Dosage calculation by body surface area is the most accurate method because it takes into account the difference in size of the child and/or neonate. d. Dosage calculation by body surface area is the most accurate method because it takes into account the difference in size of the child and/or neonate.

What is considered to be the most accurate and safest method in calculating pediatric doses? ›

Body Surface Area (BSA) Method - also called the dosage-per-kilogram-of-body-weight method; considered to be the most accurate and safest method in calculating pediatric doses. Formula: Average adult dose (child's BSA in m² ÷ average adult BSA ) = Child's dose in mg 2.

The medical definition of childhood obesity is having a body mass index (BMI) at or above the 95th percentile for age and sex in children aged 2 years and older. Children's BMI factors differ from adults. For children, BMI is age- and sex-specific because their body compositions naturally change as they age.

Three simplified linear equations were derived to calculate mean weight for age. For Infants < 12 months: Weight (kg) = (age in months + 9)/2 For Children aged 1-5 years: Weight (kg) = 2 x (age in years + 5) For Children aged 5-14 years: Weight (kg) = 4 x age in years.

Measurements were taken using a flexible tape calibrated in cm. Fetal weight was calculated using Insler and Bernsteinʼs formula: fetal weight (g) = SFH (cm) × AC (cm) 10. Fetal weight was also determined with Johnsonʼs method 11: fetal weight (g) = (fundal height [cm] – n) × 155.

Johnson's formula for estimation of foetal weight in vertex presentation is as follows: Foetal weight (g)=fH (cm)n × 155. fH=fundal height and n=12 if vertex is above ischial spine or 11 if vertex is below ischial spine.

Body Mass Index (BMI) Assessment

There are different ways to assess weight and obesity risk among children. The most common is body mass index (BMI). BMI offers an estimate of a person's risk for obesity based on his or her weight relative to height.

The crown-heel length measurement is the most accurate measurement in infants. Infants are generally unable to stand for obtaining a height measurement. Measurement should not be estimated, because an accurate measurement is required to determine growth.