What is the ketamine dose for pediatric hyperactive delirium?

• A. Ketamine 4 mg/kg
• B. Ketamine 1 mg/kg
• C. Ketamine 2 mg/kg
• D. Ketamine 3 mg/kg

Answer: (B)

In treating pediatric hyperactive delirium, you want a rapid, controllable calm without dumping the child into deep anesthesia. Ketamine at a low intravenous dose of about 1 mg/kg delivers fast sedation within a minute or two while preserving airway reflexes and spontaneous breathing. This makes it well suited for emergent agitation where you need quick control but want to avoid deeper sedation that could complicate breathing and recovery. Higher doses—2 mg/kg, 3 mg/kg, or 4 mg/kg—push toward deeper anesthesia and longer recovery, increasing risk and not ideal for initial management. So the best choice is 1 mg/kg.