Pediatric drug dosing is weight-based, not age-based. A 6-year-old can weigh 16 kg or 28 kg in Indian populations — flat age-based dosing risks under-treatment of cellulitis or overdose of paracetamol (a leading cause of pediatric hepatotoxicity globally).

The IAP Standard Treatment Guidelines and IDA pediatric protocols both emphasise mg/kg dosing with maxima capped at adult doses. This calculator follows IAP STG 2022 and BNFc.

• Amoxicillin — odontogenic infection: 25 mg/kg/dose TDS × 5 days (max 500 mg/dose).
• Amoxicillin — endocarditis prophylaxis: 50 mg/kg, single dose 30-60 min pre-procedure (max 2 g).
• Cefadroxil: 30 mg/kg/dose BD × 5 days — use in non-IgE penicillin allergy.
• Ibuprofen: 10 mg/kg/dose TDS — preferred analgesic post-extraction.
• Paracetamol: 15 mg/kg/dose QID, max 60 mg/kg/day or 4 g/day adult cap.

• Mox / Novamox: Comes as 125 mg/5 mL AND 250 mg/5 mL (DS). Always read bottle label.
• Calpol: 120 mg/5 mL (standard) and 250 mg/5 mL (Calpol-T DS) — most dosing errors come from mixing these up.
• Brufen / Ibugesic: 100 mg/5 mL is the common pediatric strength.
• Cefadrox / Droxyl: 125 mg/5 mL syrup is the typical pediatric formulation.
• Typical Indian retail cost: a complete 5-day antibiotic course for a 15-kg child runs ₹50–120, well within outpatient affordability.

Per IDA / Cochrane evidence, the majority of pulpal pain and reversible pulpitis does not need antibiotics — definitive treatment (pulpectomy, extraction, drainage) is the cure. Reserve antibiotics for systemic involvement (fever, cellulitis, lymphadenopathy), spreading infection, or the immunocompromised child.