Question

Dosage of intravenous fluid for a 2 month old child with diarrhoea and severe dehydration:

• A. 100 ml/kg in 6 hours
• B. 50 ml/kg in 6 hours
• C. 75 ml/kg in 6 hours
• D. 80 ml/kg in 6 hours

Hint:

WHO Plan C: severe dehydration needs 100 ml/kg, over 6 hours in infants.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Severe dehydration in a child with diarrhoea needs rapid intravenous rehydration following the WHO Plan C protocol. The total replacement volume is 100 ml/kg of Ringer lactate.

Step 2: The rate of infusion depends on age. For an infant below 12 months, the 100 ml/kg is given over a longer 6 hour period to avoid fluid overload, whereas for an older child it is given faster over 3 hours.

Step 3: A 2 month old falls in the infant group, so the correct schedule is 100 ml/kg in 6 hours, making option a correct.

Step 4: The split for an infant is 30 ml/kg over the first hour and then 70 ml/kg over the next 5 hours. The other doses (50, 75, or 80 ml/kg) underestimate the deficit replacement for severe dehydration and are therefore incorrect.