1. Primary Clinical References
All dosing algorithms, concentration standards, and clinical pathways directly cross-reference established medical literature:
MoH Paediatric Protocols (4th Ed)
Ministry of Health Malaysia: Primary reference for antibiotic dosing ranges, treatment durations, and acute respiratory management in Malaysian public hospitals and health clinics (Klinik Kesihatan).
MOH Drug Formulary (Blue Book 2026)
Pharmaceutical Services Programme, KKM: Definitive national reference for drug indications, approved strengths, prescriber categories (A/A*/B), and dosage forms.
National Antimicrobial Guidelines (NAG)
MOH Malaysia: Standardized first-line and second-line antimicrobial therapy, renal dose modifications, and pediatric pathogen-directed antibiotic choices.
Malaysian CPG: Neonatal Jaundice (2014)
MOH & Academy of Medicine of Malaysia: Gestational-age stratified hour-specific total serum bilirubin (TSB) cut-offs for phototherapy and exchange transfusion.
BNFc (British National Formulary for Children)
International benchmark for pediatric dosage validation, cumulative daily ceilings, and contraindications.
Frank Shann (*Drug Doses*, 17th Edition)
Standard pocket compendium utilized across Royal College and Commonwealth pediatric intensive care and emergency units.
2. Weight-Based Dosing Methodology
PaedsCalc computes single-dose requirements through strict multi-variable validation:
- Weight Input (kg): Entered directly or derived from age using validated pediatric growth formulas (e.g.
(Age × 2) + 8for toddlers aged 1–5 years). - Weight-Tier Regimens: Formulations specify either
mg/kg/dose(e.g. Paracetamol 15 mg/kg/dose Q6H) ormg/kg/day divided(e.g. Amoxicillin 30–40 mg/kg/day divided TDS). - Dose Conversion:
Dose (mg) = Weight (kg) × Regimen Target (mg/kg). - Volume Conversion:
Volume (mL) = Dose (mg) ÷ Concentration (mg/mL).
3. Hard Toxicity Ceilings (Maximum Doses)
To prevent accidental overdosing when applying linear weight-based calculations to older or overweight children, PaedsCalc enforces hard clinical ceilings:
- Paracetamol: Single dose capped at 1,000 mg; cumulative daily cap at 4,000 mg (or 60 mg/kg/day).
- Ibuprofen: Single dose capped at 400 mg; cumulative daily cap at 1,200 mg.
- Amoxicillin / Augmentin: Amoxicillin single component capped at 1,000 mg/dose.
- Adrenaline (1:1,000) IM Anaphylaxis: Capped at 0.3 mL (0.3 mg) for children <30 kg, and 0.5 mL (0.5 mg) for older children and adults.
4. Clinic Dispensing & Bottle Rounding Logic
Practical clinic administration requires translating milligram values into physical containers and measuring tools:
- Duration Defaults: Symptomatic syrups default to 3 days; antibiotic courses default to 5, 7, or 10 days.
- Bottle Pack Optimization:
Total Volume = Dose (mL) × Daily Frequency × Duration (days). The engine evaluates commercially available Malaysian pack sizes (e.g. 60 mL, 90 mL, 100 mL, 120 mL bottles) to recommend the minimum complete bottle count without leaving the patient short.
5. Clinical Error Prevention & Safety Guardrails
- Strict Metric Locking (kg): All inputs are permanently calibrated in kilograms (kg), completely preventing accidental 2.2× overdoses caused by lbs/kg confusion.
- Hard Toxicity Caps: Even in the event of an erroneous weight entry, hard physiological single-dose and daily ceilings protect patients from receiving adult-toxic quantities.
- WHO Growth & Age-Weight Reference: Integrated age-weight estimators allow prescribers to cross-reference entered weights against standard pediatric medians.