Last reviewed: March 2026
This is an educational reference tool only. Prednisolone dosing is highly indication-dependent and subject to institutional protocols.
The preset doses here represent commonly cited ranges. They do not account for individual factors such as renal/hepatic function, concomitant medications, or disease severity. Always confirm with a treating clinician.
Prednisolone is a synthetic glucocorticoid used in children across a wide range of clinical indications — from short asthma exacerbations and croup to longer-term nephrotic syndrome induction and autoimmune conditions. Its dose and duration vary dramatically by indication, making a clinical reference tool particularly valuable.
The dose ranges from as low as 0.15 mg/kg (for croup, antiemetic use) to as high as 2 mg/kg/day (for nephrotic syndrome induction), meaning a fixed-dose approach cannot be applied across indications — every prescription requires an indication-specific calculation.
This calculator encodes the most commonly used indication presets (asthma, croup, nephrotic syndrome, autoimmune, antiemetic adjunct) alongside a custom entry mode for clinician-defined dosing. Results are expressed in both mg and the volume of the selected formulation.
Select the clinical indication from the preset menu. Each preset loads a mg/kg dose, a maximum single dose, and the recommended frequency. Enter the child's weight (in kg, g, or lb) and select a formulation — the calculator applies the mg/kg rate, caps at the maximum, and converts to volume.
The custom dosing mode allows the clinician to override presets and enter any mg/kg value directly, supporting off-label dosing or protocol-specific regimens under specialist guidance. A validation range (0.1–10 mg/kg for prednisolone) flags implausible entries before they produce results.
Formulations supported include Syrup 5 mg/5 mL, Syrup 10 mg/5 mL, Tablet 5 mg, and Tablet 20 mg. Volume rounding is adjustable in 0.25 mL steps to match oral syringe graduations.
Inline warnings flag scenarios requiring extra caution: very young age, doses approaching the adult ceiling, and the nephrotic syndrome preset — where courses may extend for weeks and require a structured taper plan rather than abrupt cessation.
Asthma exacerbation (oral): 1 mg/kg/day (maximum 40 mg), typically given as a single daily dose for 3–5 days. Short courses at this dose do not require tapering. This is one of the most common uses of oral prednisolone in pediatric emergency and primary care settings.
Croup (viral laryngotracheobronchitis): 0.15 mg/kg as a single oral dose (maximum 10 mg), with the option to repeat at 12 hours in severe cases. A single well-timed dose substantially reduces return visits and the need for nebulised adrenaline.
Nephrotic syndrome — induction: 2 mg/kg/day (maximum 60 mg), given as a single daily dose per standard international protocols until remission (typically 4–6 weeks), followed by an extended alternate-day taper. This indication requires close biochemical and blood pressure monitoring.
Autoimmune and inflammatory conditions: 1 mg/kg/day (maximum 60 mg), with duration and taper determined by the specific diagnosis and clinical response. Courses extending beyond 2 weeks carry a risk of adrenal suppression and require a supervised taper.
Antiemetic adjunct (procedural): 0.15 mg/kg (maximum 8 mg) as a single dose. This is an off-label use in paediatric procedural sedation and chemotherapy antiemesis protocols.
The prednisolone dose is calculated using the same weight-based formula applied to all pediatric corticosteroids, with an indication-specific mg/kg rate and maximum dose cap.
Short courses (≤7 days) at standard doses are generally well tolerated in children and do not require tapering or adrenal function monitoring. The most common side effects are mood changes, increased appetite, and gastric discomfort.
Longer courses carry risks of adrenal suppression, growth impairment, Cushingoid features, hypertension, hyperglycaemia, and osteoporosis. Any course exceeding 2 weeks should be supervised by a specialist with a structured taper plan.
Do not stop abruptly after courses longer than 2–3 weeks. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis requires time to recover. Abrupt withdrawal can precipitate an adrenal crisis, which is a medical emergency.
Immunosuppression during corticosteroid therapy increases susceptibility to infections. Live vaccines should not be given during or within 3 months of significant corticosteroid therapy. Varicella exposure requires urgent assessment for post-exposure prophylaxis.
Calculated single doses using indication-specific mg/kg rates, capped at standard maximums. Verify duration and taper requirements with a clinician for all indications.
| Weight (kg) | Asthma 1 mg/kg (mg) | Croup 0.15 mg/kg (mg) | Nephrotic 2 mg/kg (mg) | Syrup 5 mg/5 mL (mL) — Asthma dose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 kg | 5 mg | 0.75 mg | 10 mg | 5 mL |
| 8 kg | 8 mg | 1.2 mg | 16 mg | 8 mL |
| 10 kg | 10 mg | 1.5 mg | 20 mg | 10 mL |
| 12 kg | 12 mg | 1.8 mg | 24 mg | 12 mL |
| 15 kg | 15 mg | 2.25 mg | 30 mg | 15 mL |
| 18 kg | 18 mg | 2.7 mg | 36 mg | 18 mL |
| 20 kg | 20 mg | 3 mg | 40 mg | 20 mL |
| 25 kg | 25 mg | 3.75 mg | 50 mg | 25 mL |
| 30 kg | 30 mg | 4.5 mg | 60 mg | 30 mL |
| 35 kg | 35 mg | 5.25 mg | 60 mg | 35 mL |
| 40 kg | 40 mg | 6 mg | 60 mg | 40 mL |
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Usman Shaoukat is the founder and editor of BestMedCal. He is a computer and web specialist who researches every BestMedCal tool from published standards and medication-safety references, including NIST, the U.S. FDA, NCBI and the American Academy of Pediatrics. His focus is dose-to-volume calculations and unit conversions. Every formula and worked example is checked against the sources listed on each page. BestMedCal has no clinicians on staff: our tools check arithmetic and explain methods; they do not recommend doses. If you spot an error, contact us and we will review it.