Ciprofloxacin Pediatric Dose Calculator
Weight-based ciprofloxacin dosing for children — 15 mg/kg/dose · every 12 hours · max 500 mg/dose. Enter age and weight for the dose in mg and syrup mL, tablets or injection volume.
Pediatric dosing
Shigellosis (bloody diarrhoea / dysentery)
Complicated UTI / pyelonephritis (resistant organisms)
Cholera (adjunct to rehydration)
Serious infection — IV (hospital) Hospital
Ciprofloxacin dose chart by age and weight
Shigellosis (bloody diarrhoea / dysentery). Weights are WHO/IAP reference medians for age — always dose on the measured weight.
| Age | Weight | Dose (mg) | Suspension 250 mg/5 mL (where available) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 9.3 kg | 139.5 mg | 2.8 mL | Every 12 hours |
| 18 months | 10.6 kg | 159 mg | 3.2 mL | Every 12 hours |
| 2 years | 11.8 kg | 177 mg | 3.5 mL | Every 12 hours |
| 3 years | 14.1 kg | 211.5 mg | 4.2 mL | Every 12 hours |
| 4 years | 16.2 kg | 243 mg | 4.9 mL | Every 12 hours |
| 5 years | 17.5 kg | 262.5 mg | 5.3 mL | Every 12 hours |
| 6 years | 19 kg | 285 mg | 5.7 mL | Every 12 hours |
| 8 years | 24.4 kg | 366 mg | 7.3 mL | Every 12 hours |
| 10 years | 31.1 kg | 466.5 mg | 9.3 mL | Every 12 hours |
| 12 years | 39.4 kg | 500 mg | 10 mL | Every 12 hours |
Strengths in the calculator
- Suspension 250 mg/5 mL (where available) (Oral)
- Tablet 250 mg (Oral)
- Tablet 500 mg (Oral)
- IV infusion 2 mg/mL (200 mg/100 mL) (Intravenous)
Different strength on your bottle? Use “Different strength on the bottle?” under the result.
Safety
Contraindications and cautions
- Previous fluoroquinolone tendinopathy; myasthenia gravis.
- Not first line in children — use only when benefit outweighs the risk of arthropathy.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Legacy FDA category C. Avoid in pregnancy when a safer alternative exists.
Avoid if possible; if used, monitor the infant.
Clinical notes
High fluoroquinolone resistance in Salmonella Typhi across South Asia — not recommended empirically for enteric fever. Separate from dairy, antacids, iron and zinc by 2 hours. Stop if joint or tendon pain develops.
Adult and adolescent (≥40 kg) dose
250–750 mg — Every 12 hours (max 750 mg per dose, 1500 mg per day).
Other names and brands
Also known as Cipro.
- India: Ciplox, Cifran
- USA: Cipro
Brand examples only — products and strengths vary by country. Always check the label.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ciprofloxacin dose for children?
Shigellosis (bloody diarrhoea / dysentery): 15 mg/kg/dose · every 12 hours · max 500 mg/dose. Usual duration: 3 days. Always use the child's measured weight and check the strength on the bottle.
How many mL of suspension 250 mg/5 mL (where available) for an 11.8 kg child?
For shigellosis (bloody diarrhoea / dysentery), an 11.8 kg child (about 2 years) needs 177 mg per dose — 3.5 mL of Suspension 250 mg/5 mL (where available), every 12 hours. Recalculate with the child's actual weight.
From what age can ciprofloxacin be given?
Age range in PediaRx: ≥1 year (selected indications) – adult. The calculator does not calculate a dose below 1 year. Each indication can have its own age and weight limits, shown with its regimen.
Is ciprofloxacin safe in pregnancy?
Legacy FDA category C. Avoid in pregnancy when a safer alternative exists.
Sources and editorial process
- Pocket Book of Hospital Care for Children, 2nd edition (2013) — World Health Organization
- BNF for Children — Ciprofloxacin — NICE / BMJ Group / Royal Pharmaceutical Society
- Ciprofloxacin — US prescribing information — DailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine)
- Antibiotic treatment of cholera — technical note — Global Task Force on Cholera Control
Dosing data last updated 2026-09-27. PediaRx is built and maintained by Dr. Shounak Pal, MBBS (Medical Officer, Government of West Bengal, India — founder and developer of PediaRx). Every regimen is encoded with explicit units, maximum doses and age/weight limits and is checked by automated tests before publication. Report an error: hello@pediarx.com.
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Clinical disclaimer: reference tool for qualified health professionals. Verify every dose against current guidance and the product label before prescribing.
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