Zinc Pediatric Dose Calculator
Age-based zinc dosing for children — <6 months: 10 mg per dose · once daily; ≥6 months: 20 mg per dose · once daily. Enter age and weight for the dose in mg and syrup mL or tablets.
Pediatric dosing
Acute diarrhoea (with ORS)
Zinc dose chart by age and weight
Acute diarrhoea (with ORS). Weights are WHO/IAP reference medians for age — always dose on the measured weight.
| Age | Weight | Dose (mg) | Syrup 20 mg elemental zinc/5 mL | Syrup 10 mg elemental zinc/5 mL | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 days | 3.8 kg | 10 mg | 2.5 mL | 5 mL | Once daily |
| 1 month | 4.3 kg | 10 mg | 2.5 mL | 5 mL | Once daily |
| 3 months | 6.1 kg | 10 mg | 2.5 mL | 5 mL | Once daily |
| 6 months | 7.6 kg | 20 mg | 5 mL | 10 mL | Once daily |
| 9 months | 8.6 kg | 20 mg | 5 mL | 10 mL | Once daily |
| 1 year | 9.3 kg | 20 mg | 5 mL | 10 mL | Once daily |
| 18 months | 10.6 kg | 20 mg | 5 mL | 10 mL | Once daily |
| 2 years | 11.8 kg | 20 mg | 5 mL | 10 mL | Once daily |
| 3 years | 14.1 kg | 20 mg | 5 mL | 10 mL | Once daily |
| 4 years | 16.2 kg | 20 mg | 5 mL | 10 mL | Once daily |
| 5 years | 17.5 kg | 20 mg | 5 mL | 10 mL | Once daily |
| 6 years | 19 kg | 20 mg | 5 mL | 10 mL | Once daily |
| 8 years | 24.4 kg | 20 mg | 5 mL | 10 mL | Once daily |
| 10 years | 31.1 kg | 20 mg | 5 mL | 10 mL | Once daily |
| 12 years | 39.4 kg | 20 mg | 5 mL | 10 mL | Once daily |
Strengths in the calculator
- Syrup 20 mg elemental zinc/5 mL (Oral)
- Syrup 10 mg elemental zinc/5 mL (Oral)
- Dispersible tablet 20 mg — dissolve in breast milk, ORS or water (Oral)
Different strength on your bottle? Use “Different strength on the bottle?” under the result.
Safety
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Legacy FDA category A. Supplement doses are safe in pregnancy.
Compatible with breastfeeding.
Clinical notes
Doses are elemental zinc. Continue for the full 10–14 days even after diarrhoea stops — it reduces recurrence over the next 2–3 months.
Adult and adolescent (≥40 kg) dose
.
Not routinely recommended for adult diarrhoea.
Other names and brands
Also known as Zinc sulfate, Elemental zinc.
Brand examples only — products and strengths vary by country. Always check the label.
Frequently asked questions
What is the zinc dose for children?
Acute diarrhoea (with ORS): <6 months: 10 mg per dose · once daily; ≥6 months: 20 mg per dose · once daily. Usual duration: 10–14 days. Always use the child's measured weight and check the strength on the bottle.
How many mL of syrup 20 mg elemental zinc/5 mL for an 11.8 kg child?
For acute diarrhoea (with ORS), an 11.8 kg child (about 2 years) needs 20 mg per dose — 5 mL of Syrup 20 mg elemental zinc/5 mL, once daily. Recalculate with the child's actual weight.
From what age can zinc be given?
Age range in PediaRx: Birth – adult. Each indication can have its own age and weight limits, shown with its regimen.
Is zinc safe in pregnancy?
Legacy FDA category A. Supplement doses are safe in pregnancy.
Sources and editorial process
- WHO/UNICEF joint statement: Clinical management of acute diarrhoea (2004) — World Health Organization / UNICEF
- The treatment of diarrhoea: a manual for physicians and other senior health workers (2005) — World Health Organization
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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