In the developing world, antiretrovirals are not available to the majority of infected persons. But the tide is beginning to change and treatments are becoming available to HIV-infected children and their families.Formulations to facilitate pediatric dosing of ART are lacking. There are no fixed-dosed combinations (FDCs) of triple therapy (a combination of three antiretroviral drugs) for children. Liquid medication is more expensive than adult pills, is bulky and costly, and may require refrigeration. But pediatric doses require the flexibility to give the right amount of medication based on weight. Formulations that can be administered safely, in appropriate doses for children, are greatly needed.
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Treatment ResourcesResources from the National Institutes of Health
U.S. Guidelines for the Use of Antiretroviral Agents in Adults & Adolescents PDF (Updated 10/6/05) U.S. Guidelines for the Use of Antiretroviral Agents in Pediatric HIV Infection PDF (Updated 11/3/05) Recommendations for the Use of Antiretroviral Drugs in Pregnant HIV-Infected Women for Maternal Health and Interventions to Reduce Perinatal HIV-1 Transmission in the United States PDF (Updated 11/17/05) Pediatric Antiretroviral Drug Information PDF (U.S. and other nations where drugs are available)
Resources from the World Health Organization Pediatric Antiretroviral Drug Information (Information for resource-limited settings):Antiretroviral Drugs and the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV Infection in Resource-Limited Settings: Recommendations for a Public Health Approach (2005 Revision) PDFTable: Antiretrovirals for Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV (2005 Revision) PDFAntiretroviral Drugs for the Treatment of HIV Infection in Adults and Adolescents in Resource-Limited Settings: Recommendations for a Public Health Approach (2005 Revision) PDFAntiretroviral Drugs for the Treatment of HIV Infection in Infants and Children in Resource-Limited Settings: Recommendations for a Public Health Approach (2005 Revision) PDF