title: A visual dosing aid for first-line pediatric antiretroviral treatment in resource-poor settings.
abstract: The visual dosing aid (VDA) was developed to facilitate dosing calculations in response to children's; growth and weight during antiretroviral treatment. The theoretical accuracy of the VDA was assessed using anthropometric data from 55 children receiving care in the USA and 324 children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The VDA dose was similar to the WHO recommended dose. A potentially significant relative dosing difference of >or=20% occurred in <3% of children for NVP, AZT and d4T, but was observed in 20% for 3TC, overdosing being more frequent. The VDA compared well with generic pediatric fixed dose combination tablets. Results did not differ between sites. The VDA enables accurate dosing of pediatric ART in distinct populations and could facilitate roll-out of pediatric ART in resource-poor settings.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7435, USA. callens@email.unc.edu
authors.forename: Steven F J
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Callens
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Westreich
authors.forename: Faustin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kitetele
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lusiama
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shabani
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Belhorn
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Colebunders
authors.forename: Frieda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Behets
authors.forename: Annelies
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Van Rie
mesh_terms: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001830:Body Surface Area; D001835:Body Weight; D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D054796:Drug Dosage Calculations; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011203:Poverty
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents