What would be the appropriate dosing instructions for ibuprofen for a child weighing 17 kg?

When determining the correct ibuprofen dosing for a child based on weight, it's essential to remember the recommended dosing guidelines. Ibuprofen is typically dosed at 10 mg/kg for children.

In this case, for a child weighing 17 kg, the calculation would be:

10 mg/kg × 17 kg = 170 mg

The usual formulation for liquid ibuprofen is 100 mg/5 mL, which means that:

170 mg would be equivalent to 8.5 mL of the liquid formulation (since 100 mg is contained in 5 mL, you can find a dose of 170 mg with a simple ratio).

Thus, the appropriate dosing instruction for this child would involve administering 8.5 mL. The "q6h" indicates that this dosage can be repeated every 6 hours, which falls within the recommended dosing intervals for ibuprofen.

This dosing instruction ensures that the child receives the proper amount of medication for effective relief of fever or pain, while minimizing the risk of overdose.