This version was machine-translated from German and has not been medically reviewed. The authoritative version is the German version.

Fluid calculator

Holliday-Segar maintenance requirement, 24-hour plan for dehydration and volume bolus by AWMF 068-003

What should be calculated?

Maintenance requirement Dehydration: 24-hour plan Volume bolus

Child

Current body weight (kg)

Age (optional)

For checking only: the formula does not apply to newborns.

Dehydration

Weight before the illness (kg, if known)

The deficit is then calculated from the weight loss (1 kg = 1,000 ml).

… otherwise estimated deficit (% of body weight)

Guideline: mild up to 5 % of body weight · moderate 5 to 10 % of body weight · severe over 10 % of body weight. The clinical assessment (dehydration score) remains with the team.

Ongoing losses, estimated for the next 24 hours

Watery stools

Vomiting

Temperature (°C)

Volume bolus

Bolus (ml/kg)

Pre-filled with the guideline value (II.2.3); changeable.

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Sources

S2k guideline acute infectious gastroenteritis in infancy, childhood and adolescence – update 2024, version 4.1 (AWMF registry number 068-003) Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition (GPGE) with DGKJ, DGPI, BVKJ, DEGAM et al., 2024. Guideline, long version (freely accessible; chapter II.1 oral and II.2 intravenous rehydration, table II-2, case example p. 49)
The maintenance need for water in parenteral fluid therapy (Pediatrics 19:823–832) Holliday MA, Segar WE, 1957. Original paper – derivation of the 100/50/20 rule from energy expenditure

Scientific basis last reviewed: September 2026.

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Note

Calculation aid for healthcare professionals. Percentiles and z-scores describe the position of a measured value in the reference population; clinical assessment remains with the treating physician.