What is the daily maintenance fluid requirement for a 5 kg infant?

• A. 300 mL
• B. 500 mL
• C. 700 mL
• D. 1000 mL

Answer: (B)

Maintenance fluid needs in pediatrics follow weight-based guidelines. Using the Holliday-Segar method, the daily maintenance requirement for the first 10 kg is 100 mL per kg per day. For a 5 kg infant, that’s 5 × 100 = 500 mL per day. This provides a straightforward baseline for hydration and insensible losses; actual needs can vary with fever, illness, or higher losses, which would require adjustments. The other options would represent lower or higher daily maintenance than the standard baseline for this weight.