An infant weights 6 kg. What is the required amount of fluid per day in mL?
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer: 600 mL per day
Explanation:
To determine the daily fluid requirement for an infant, the commonly used guideline is the Holliday-Segar method, which is widely accepted in pediatric medicine. This method bases fluid needs on the child’s weight.
For infants and children:
- For the first 10 kg of body weight: 100 mL per kg per day
This infant weighs 6 kg, which falls under the first category. Therefore, the calculation is as follows:
6 kg × 100 mL/kg/day = 600 mL/day
This means the infant needs 600 milliliters of fluid in a 24-hour period.
This estimation is important in clinical care, especially in hospitals, to ensure that infants receive enough fluids to support their metabolic functions, maintain electrolyte balance, and prevent dehydration. Infants have a higher percentage of body water compared to adults and lose fluids more quickly, making proper hydration critical.
Fluid requirements include all sources of fluid intake such as breast milk, formula, or intravenous fluids if the baby is hospitalized. Breast milk and formula typically meet most hydration needs in healthy infants, and the volume consumed should approximate this total.
It is important to reassess fluid needs frequently in pediatric patients, as changes in health status such as fever, diarrhea, vomiting, or other conditions can increase fluid loss and require adjustments. Additionally, overhydration must be avoided to prevent complications like hyponatremia.
This 600 mL/day guideline is used in normal, healthy infants. In medical settings, the pediatrician or clinical team would tailor the volume more precisely based on the infant’s clinical condition, feeding tolerance, and any ongoing fluid losses.