Statement on the use of child-friendly fixed-dose combinations for the treatment of TB in children
WHO and UNICEF issue joint statement on the use of child-friendly fixed-dose combinations for the treatment of TB in children.
Geneva ¦ 24 March 2017 - The World Health Organization
(WHO) and UNICEF issued a joint statement today, urging all
National TB Programmes to replace the previously used medicines
for children weighing less than 25 kg with the child-friendly
dispersible TB fixed-dose combinations (FDCs) at the soonest
possible time. WHO and UNICEF advise against continued usage of
the old sub-optimally dosed FDCs or adult formulations
(crushed tablets), which may lead to under or over-dosing,
unfavourable treatment outcomes, and high likelihood of
contributing to the development of drug resistance.
"If we are to end the TB epidemic, we must
bring children with TB out of the shadows and ensure they are
properly diagnosed, treated and cured," said Dr. Mario
Raviglione, Director of the Global TB Programme at WHO. "The new
fixed-dose formulations for children will offer hope for the 600
children who needlessly die of TB each day. Urgent action is
needed to ensure these medicines reach those in need and rapidly
improve child survival from TB."
The
child-friendly FDCs were launched in December 2015 by WHO and
the Global Alliance for TB Drug Development (TB Alliance). They
were developed in line with the revised dosing to achieve the
appropriate therapeutic levels, that was published in the WHO
Guidance for national tuberculosis programmes on the
management of tuberculosis in children.
Statement on the use of child-friendly fixed-dose combinations for the treatment of TB in children
