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| |  Fixed-Dose Combination Tablets Simplify Antiretroviral Treatment for Children in India With HIV: Presented at AIDS 2008 By Kate Jongbloed MEXICO CITY -- August 8, 2008 -- Children with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in India and their caregivers find that paediatric fixed-dose combination tablets are easier to take, are better tolerated, and are easier to administer, according to a study presented here at the 17th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2008). The vast majority of doctors (nearly 95%) "agreed that paediatric fixed-dose tablets were well accepted and tolerated," noted Po-Lin Chan, MD, World Health Organization (WHO), New Delhi, India, presenting the poster presentation of her study here on August 5. In the WHO India study, Dr. Chan and colleagues wanted to explore acceptance of the treatments that are administered to children living with HIV/AIDS in their country. More than 100,000 children in India are infected with HIV. At the start of the study in 2006, only 1,800 children in India -- less than 2% -- were on antiretroviral treatment under the National Paediatric Antiretroviral Treatment Programme. Between 2006 and 2008, the National Paediatric Antiretroviral Treatment Programme combined stavudine, lamivudine, nevirapine, and zidovudine to meet the needs of babies and young children. For babies weighing between 5 and 12 kg, the programme used tablets consisting of 6 parts stavudine, 30 parts lamivudine, and 50 parts nevirapine. Once a child reached 12 kg, he or she began taking a combination tablet consisting of 10 parts stavudine, 40 parts lamivudine, and 70 parts nevirapine. After reaching 20 kg, the subjects were considered adult and took tablets of 150 parts lamivudine and 200 parts nevirapine combined with either 30 parts stavudine or 300 parts zidovudine. The WHO India study compared the ease of use of these fixed-dose combination tablets with that of syrup formulations, modified adult doses, and paediatric single-drug formulations. The study used surveys and interviews to determine the acceptability of paediatric fixed-dose combination tablets among patients and providers, using data from 190 health practitioners and clinical records of 120 children using the medication. Only a minority of respondents (8%) expressed difficulties with the fixed-dose combination tablets, and the complaints were generally focused on the following: difficulty in cutting the tablet in half to achieve appropriate dose; changing the tablets according to weight; pill burden; absence of syrup for babies; and palatability.
[Presentation title: Paediatric Fixed Dose Combination Tablets Simplifies Administration of Antiretroviral Treatment for Children in India. Abstract TUPDB107]
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