Appendix 1. Normal daily maintenance IV fluids in children > 1 month

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Last updated: January 2021

Indications

Basic hydration needs a Citation a. Daily needs are calculated according the following formula:
Children 0-10 kg: 100 ml/kg per day
Children 11-20 kg: 1000 ml + (50 ml/kg for every kg over 10 kg) per day
Children > 20 kg: 1500 ml + (20-25 ml/kg for every kg over 20 kg) per day
Adults: 2 litres per day for patients unable to drink sufficiently. After 48 hours, it is essential to provide nutrition to the patient orally or by nasogastric tube and to gradually reduce IV fluids.

This protocol should not be used for surgical or burns patients, those with renal, cardiac disease or diabetic ketoacidosis.

Fluid to be administered

The fluid of choice in children is Ringer lactate-Glucose 5% (RL-G5%). Use a premixed solution if available. If not, add 50 ml of G50% to 500 ml of RL or 100 ml of G50% to 1000 ml of RL. If RL is not available, use 0.9% sodium chloride instead.

For ease of prescription and administration, the daily volumes and rates in drops per minute have been rounded off.

Weight	Volume /24 hours	Rate () Citation . In a paediatric infusion set, the number of drops per minute is equal to the number of ml per hour. For example: 15 drops/min = 15 ml/hour (paediatric infusion set 1 ml = 60 drops)
3 to < 4 kg	350 ml/24 h	15 drops/min
4 to < 5 kg	450 ml/24 h	19 drops/min
5 to < 6 kg	550 ml/24 h	23 drops/min
6 to < 7 kg	650 ml/24 h	27 drops/min
7 to < 8 kg	750 ml/24 h	31 drops/min
8 to < 9 kg	850 ml/24 h	35 drops/min
9 to < 11 kg	950 ml/24 h	40 drops/min
11 to < 14 kg	1100 ml/24 h	46 drops/min
14 to < 16 kg	1200 ml/24 h	50 drops/min
16 to < 18 kg	1300 ml/24 h	54 drops/min
18 to < 20 kg	1400 ml/24 h	58 drops/min

Weight	Volume /24 hours	Rate () Citation . In a paediatric infusion set, the number of drops per minute is equal to the number of ml per hour. For example: 15 drops/min = 15 ml/hour (paediatric infusion set 1 ml = 60 drops)	Rate (standard infusion set 1 ml = 20 drops)
20 to < 22 kg	1500 ml/24 h	63 drops/min	21 drops/min
22 to < 26 kg	1600 ml/24 h	67 drops/min	22 drops/min
26 to < 30 kg	1700 ml/24 h	71 drops/min	24 drops/min
30 to < 35 kg	1800 ml/24 h	75 drops/min	25 drops/min
≥ 35 kg	2000 ml/24 h	83 drops/min	28 drops/min

Footnotes

(a)Daily needs are calculated according the following formula:
Children 0-10 kg: 100 ml/kg per day
Children 11-20 kg: 1000 ml + (50 ml/kg for every kg over 10 kg) per day
Children > 20 kg: 1500 ml + (20-25 ml/kg for every kg over 20 kg) per day
Adults: 2 litres per day

(*) In a paediatric infusion set, the number of drops per minute is equal to the number of ml per hour.
For example: 15 drops/min = 15 ml/hour