Medicines used in childhood
The British National Formulary for Children (BNFC) addresses day-to-day prescribing information needs of healthcare professionals treating children. The BNFC brings together authoritative independent guidance on best practice, validating information with a standardised process. Careful consideration is given to establishing the clinical need for unlicensed interventions. It remains the main stay of reliable prescribing information alongside NICE guidance outlined below for the most common conditions, but is not an exhaustive list.
The Specialist Pharmacy Service have suggested resources to help primary care healthcare professionals find information on medicines use in paediatrics to support answering questions.
Please expand the topics below for more information and useful links.
The information and links provided are for guidance, clinical decisions remain the responsibility of the practitioner; the intention is to help prescribers find evidence based information and does not replace input from appropriate professionals or constitute medical advice for individual patients.
For guidance on Scarlet Fever and GAS – Please see the NHS Somerset infection management formulary for information.
The SPS have developed interim guidance on the use of solid dosage form antibiotics in children for use where liquids cannot be obtained.
Medicines for Children provide some practical guidance and leaflets for children.
Asthma
NG80 Asthma: diagnosis, monitoring and chronic asthma management, noting the Treatment pathway for children under 5.
BTS/SIGN guideline for the management of asthma.
See the formulary link for the Respiratory System.
Balanitis
Most pre-pubertal boys only experience a single episode of balanitis.
See CKS Balanitis for further guidance on treatment.
Bronchiolitis and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
[NG9] Bronchiolitis in children: diagnosis and management sets out management of bronchiolitis:
Do not use any of the following to treat bronchiolitis in babies or children:
- Antibiotics
- hypertonic saline
- adrenaline (nebulised)
- salbutamol
- montelukast
- ipratropium bromide
- systemic or inhaled corticosteroids
- a combination of systemic corticosteroids and nebulised adrenaline.
Give oxygen supplementation to babies and children with bronchiolitis if their oxygen saturation is:
- persistently less than 90%, for children aged 6 weeks and over
- persistently less than 92%, for babies under 6 weeks or children of any age with underlying health conditions
Please see our Infection Management page for more detail including managing coughs in children.
Chicken Pox
Constipation
CG99 Constipation in children and young people: diagnosis and management. See point 1.4 for clinical management including disimpaction and maintenance therapy.
ERIC (the Children’s Bladder and Bowel Charity) have some useful resources for children and teens, parents/carers and education and health professionals.
Eczema
CG57 Atopic eczema in under 12s: diagnosis and management
See our dermatology webpage and formulary for guidance and formulary choices.
Research has shown that online support improved eczema symptoms in children and young people. EczemaCareOnline provides an online toolkit with various useful resources to help manage eczema and is free to use without registration.
Infections
NICE [NG194] Neonatal infection: antibiotics for prevention and treatment point 1.8 discusses risk factors for clinical indicators of possible late-onset neonatal infection.
Refer to our Infection Management page for GP paediatric Sepsis decision support tools and prescribing advice.
‘When Should I Worry?’ is a booklet developed by researchers at PRIME Centre Wales, Division of Population Medicine, Cardiff University. It provides information for parents about the management of respiratory tract infections (coughs, colds, sore throats, and ear aches) in children, and has been designed to be used in primary care consultations.
Reflux and Food Allergies
NG1 Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease in children and young people: diagnosis and management, including ‘silent reflux’ also known as occult reflux.
Be aware that some symptoms of a non‑IgE‑mediated cows’ milk protein allergy can be similar to the symptoms of GORD, especially in infants with atopic symptoms, signs and/or a family history. If a non‑IgE‑mediated cows’ milk protein allergy is suspected, see the NICE guideline on CG116 Food allergy in under 19s: assessment and diagnosis.
See our infant feeding page and formulary links to suspected cow’s milk protein allergy for breastfed infants and formula fed infants.
Cow’s milk protein allergy should not be confused with Lactose intolerance.
Oral Thrush
CKS Oral Candidiasis. See also our Infection Management page.
Remember to treat the breastfeeding mum as well as baby when the child is diagnosed with oral candidiasis.
See the Breastfeeding Network factsheet on Thrush and Breastfeeding.
Sleep hygiene resources for children
Babies, children, and teenagers need significantly more sleep than adults to support their rapid mental and physical development.
Sometimes sleep can be difficult to initiate or maintain and parents or carers will ask for advice.
Listed below are some Somerset based resources which may be helpful.
Somerset Children and Young People Health and Wellbeing
Special Educational Needs. Somerset Expertise (sen.se)
Please see the Traffic Light System for prescribing status of individual medications – Currently none are suitable for primary care prescribing.
Specials
Medicines are not always available in formulations that are suitable for patients, the alteration of medication formulations may therefore be necessary, such as crushing tablets or prescribing a ‘special’ liquid formulation. Access the specials guide for information and to avoid delay in treatment and unnecessary use of unlicensed options for children. See the Somerset Formulary for further information. Medications should only be given in an unlicensed manner when a licensed alternative is not available. Licensed routes of administration should be sought first. When prescribing alternatives (licensed/ unlicensed) it is important to consider:
- Dose adjustments that need to be made with alternative liquid/ injection preparations.
- Full dose directions need to be included on the prescription (if applicable) e.g. ’take one tablet, disperse in water and take once in the morning’.
See Managing the risks of using effervescent tablets in children from Specialist Pharmacy Service.
Before accepting a request for prescribing (including specials) from secondary care, a prescriber should consider if the condition is suitable for taking on in primary care, for example complex paediatrics under the care of a consultant.
Vitamin D
The Department of Health recommends that:
- Babies from birth to 1 year of age who are being breastfed should be given a daily supplement containing 8.5 to 10 micrograms (µg) of vitamin D to make sure they get enough. This is whether or not you’re taking a supplement containing vitamin D yourself.
- Babies fed infant formula shouldn’t be given a vitamin D supplement if they’re having more than 500ml (about a pint) of infant formula a day, because infant formula is fortified with vitamin D and other nutrients.
- Children aged 1 to 4 years old should be given a daily supplement containing 10µg of vitamin D.
Healthy Start vitamins are available for families who qualify for free, see how to apply. Healthy Start women’s vitamin tablets contain folic acid and vitamins C and D (Children’s drops also available). FAQs. The application form must be signed by a midwife, health visitor, doctor or nurse. See Healthy Start for Healthcare Professionals for more information and resources.