Historical research profile. Malcolm A. Holliday is not affiliated with or endorsed by MedMaths.
Pediatric nephrology and fluid/electrolyte physiology
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Malcolm A. Holliday, MD (1924–2014), was a major figure in the development of pediatric nephrology. His work covered kidney disease, growth, nutrition, and fluid and electrolyte physiology in children. With William E. Segar, he published the 1957 Pediatrics paper on maintenance water requirements that became the historical basis of the Holliday-Segar approach to pediatric maintenance fluids.
Formula history
Formula originally described by Malcolm A. Holliday.
Used for: Historical maintenance-water method; MedMaths UI is restricted to children aged 28 days to 18 years because neonatal and adult fluid therapy require age-appropriate guidance
Evidence trail
Holliday MA, Segar WE. Holliday MA, Segar WE — The maintenance need for water in parenteral fluid therapy. Pediatrics. 1957;19(5):823-832
The 1957 Pediatrics paper related maintenance water requirements to caloric expenditure and underlies the daily 100-50-20 bands. MedMaths does not use this paper to claim that Holliday and Segar published or invented the later rounded 4-2-1 hourly shorthand.
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Continue with the explanation
These guides cover the calculation questions connected to this research.
100-50-20 is the Holliday-Segar daily maintenance method; 4-2-1 is a rounded hourly shortcut based on the same weight bands. This guide explains the relationship, why the totals can differ, and the clinical limits of full maintenance.
Open guideUnderstand what the 100-50-20 rule estimates, why the first, second and later kilograms use different daily amounts, where the Holliday-Segar method came from, and what the result does not tell you by itself.
Open guideUnderstand why the 4-2-1 rule uses 4, 2 and 1 mL/kg/hr, how it relates to the daily Holliday-Segar method, how the stepped bands work, and why rounded hourly totals can differ from 100-50-20.
Open guideContinue exploring
Known for
Holliday-Segar daily maintenance-water method (100-50-20)
This profile summarizes the published work and draws on the original publications above and verified external sources. It isn't a calculator or clinical advice. Malcolm A. Holliday isn't affiliated with MedMaths and hasn't endorsed it. Anything we couldn't confirm is left blank, not estimated.
Reference data verified: 2026-08-11
See the methodology and editorial policy for the wider sourcing process.
