5.2.7.4. Dosing of first-line medicines in older children and adolescents over 25 kg (excluding the short intensive TB meningitis regimen)

For children and adolescents weighing 25 kg or over, adult guidance and dose recommendations should be followed. These children and adolescents can be treated with adult formulations.

Adolescents face unique challenges due to peer pressure, stigma, comorbidities such as HIV, and behaviours that can complicate treatment such as use of alcohol, tobacco and other substances. Adolescents aged 10–19 years require access to adolescent-friendly services that include relevant psychosocial support and minimal disruption of education (5). Section 7.4 provides more details on the approach to adolescents at risk of or with TB.

Table 5.7 gives the recommended dosages by weight band using adult FDCs. This table applies to children and adolescents aged under 16 years and weighing 25 kg or over who are being treated with the 4-month 2HRZ(E)/2HR regimen, and to children and adolescents weighing over 25 kg who are being treated with the 6-month 2HRZE/4HR regimen.

Table 5.7. Recommended dosage by weight for children and adolescents weighing over 25 kg using adult fixed-dose combinations (excluding the short intensive TB meningitis regimen)

 

Adolescents aged 12 years and over who are treated with the 4-month HPZM regimen should receive the dosages shown in Table 5.8 (87).

 

Table 5.8. Recommended dosage by weight for adolescents being treated with the 4-month HPZM regimen

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