Statement on the use of child-friendly fixed-dose combinations for the treatment of TB in children

The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF has issued a joint statement, 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 use of the former 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.