The WHO Model List of Essential Medicines for Children (aka Essential Medicines List for Children [1] or EMLc [1] ), published by the World Health Organization (WHO), contains the medications considered to be most effective and safe in children up to twelve years of age to meet the most important needs in a health system. [2] [3]
The list is divided into core items and complementary items. [4] The core items are deemed to be the most cost-effective options for key health problems and are usable with little additional health care resources. [4] The complementary items either require additional infrastructure such as specially trained health care providers or diagnostic equipment or have a lower cost–benefit ratio. [4]
The first list for children was created in 2007, and the list is in its 8th edition as of 2021 [update] . [5] [4] [6]
Note: An α indicates a medicine is only on the complementary list. [4]
Reserve antibiotics are last-resort antibiotics. The EML antibiotic book was published in 2022. [7] [8] [9]
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Recommendations for all
Recommendations for certain regions
Recommendations for some high-risk populations
Recommendations for immunization programmes with certain characteristics
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Trimethoprim (TMP) is an antibiotic used mainly in the treatment of bladder infections. Other uses include for middle ear infections and travelers' diarrhea. With sulfamethoxazole or dapsone it may be used for Pneumocystis pneumonia in people with HIV/AIDS. It is taken by mouth.
Antimalarial medications or simply antimalarials are a type of antiparasitic chemical agent, often naturally derived, that can be used to treat or to prevent malaria, in the latter case, most often aiming at two susceptible target groups, young children and pregnant women. As of 2018, modern treatments, including for severe malaria, continued to depend on therapies deriving historically from quinine and artesunate, both parenteral (injectable) drugs, expanding from there into the many classes of available modern drugs. Incidence and distribution of the disease is expected to remain high, globally, for many years to come; moreover, known antimalarial drugs have repeatedly been observed to elicit resistance in the malaria parasite—including for combination therapies featuring artemisinin, a drug of last resort, where resistance has now been observed in Southeast Asia. As such, the needs for new antimalarial agents and new strategies of treatment remain important priorities in tropical medicine. As well, despite very positive outcomes from many modern treatments, serious side effects can impact some individuals taking standard doses.
Isoniazid, also known as isonicotinic acid hydrazide (INH), is an antibiotic used for the treatment of tuberculosis. For active tuberculosis it is often used together with rifampicin, pyrazinamide, and either streptomycin or ethambutol. For latent tuberculosis it is often used by itself. It may also be used for atypical types of mycobacteria, such as M. avium, M. kansasii, and M. xenopi. It is usually taken by mouth but may be used by injection into muscle.
ATC code J04Antimycobacterials is a therapeutic subgroup of the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System, a system of alphanumeric codes developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the classification of drugs and other medical products. Subgroup J04 is part of the anatomical group J Antiinfectives for systemic use.
ATC code P01Antiprotozoals is a therapeutic subgroup of the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System, a system of alphanumeric codes developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the classification of drugs and other medical products. Subgroup P01 is part of the anatomical group P Antiparasitic products, insecticides and repellents.
Rifampicin, also known as rifampin, is an ansamycin antibiotic used to treat several types of bacterial infections, including tuberculosis (TB), Mycobacterium avium complex, leprosy, and Legionnaires’ disease. It is almost always used together with other antibiotics with two notable exceptions: when given as a "preferred treatment that is strongly recommended" for latent TB infection; and when used as post-exposure prophylaxis to prevent Haemophilus influenzae type b and meningococcal disease in people who have been exposed to those bacteria. Before treating a person for a long period of time, measurements of liver enzymes and blood counts are recommended. Rifampicin may be given either by mouth or intravenously.
Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, sold under the brand name Bactrim among others, is a fixed-dose combination antibiotic medication used to treat a variety of bacterial infections. It consists of one part trimethoprim to five parts sulfamethoxazole. It is used to treat urinary tract infections, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) skin infections, travelers' diarrhea, respiratory tract infections, and cholera, among others. It is used both to treat and prevent pneumocystis pneumonia and toxoplasmosis in people with HIV/AIDS and other causes of immunosuppression. It can be given by mouth or intravenously.
Folinic acid, also known as leucovorin, is a medication used to decrease the toxic effects of methotrexate and pyrimethamine. It is also used in combination with 5-fluorouracil to treat colorectal cancer and pancreatic cancer, may be used to treat folate deficiency that results in anemia, and methanol poisoning. It is taken by mouth, injection into a muscle, or injection into a vein.
Artesunate (AS) is a medication used to treat malaria. The intravenous form is preferred to quinine for severe malaria. Often it is used as part of combination therapy, such as artesunate plus mefloquine. It is not used for the prevention of malaria. Artesunate can be given by injection into a vein, injection into a muscle, by mouth, and by rectum.
Pyrimethamine, sold under the brand name Daraprim among others, is a medication used with leucovorin to treat the parasitic diseases toxoplasmosis and cystoisosporiasis. It is also used with dapsone as a second-line option to prevent Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia in people with HIV/AIDS. It was previously used for malaria but is no longer recommended due to resistance. Pyrimethamine is taken by mouth.
Rifapentine, sold under the brand name Priftin, is an antibiotic used in the treatment of tuberculosis. In active tuberculosis it is used together with other antituberculosis medications. In latent tuberculosis it is typically used with isoniazid. It is taken by mouth.
Rifampicin/isoniazid/pyrazinamide, also known as rifampin/isoniazid/pyrazinamide, and sold under the trade name Rifater, is a medication used to treat tuberculosis. It is a fixed dose combination of rifampicin, isoniazid, and pyrazinamide. It is used either by itself or along with other antituberculosis medication. It is taken by mouth.
Amodiaquine (ADQ) is a medication used to treat malaria, including Plasmodium falciparum malaria when uncomplicated. It is recommended to be given with artesunate to reduce the risk of resistance. Due to the risk of rare but serious side effects, it is not generally recommended to prevent malaria. Though, the WHO in 2013 recommended use for seasonal preventive in children at high risk in combination with sulfadoxine and pyrimethamine.
Sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine, sold under the brand name Fansidar, is a combination medication used to treat malaria. It contains sulfadoxine and pyrimethamine. For the treatment of malaria it is typically used along with other antimalarial medication such as artesunate. In areas of Africa with moderate to high rates of malaria, three doses are recommended during the second and third trimester of pregnancy.
Isoniazid/rifampicin, also known as isoniazid/rifampin, is a medication used to treat tuberculosis. It is a fixed dose combination of isoniazid and rifampicin (rifampin). It is used together with other antituberculosis medication. It is taken by mouth.
Ethambutol/isoniazid/rifampicin, also known as ethambutol/isoniazid/rifampin, is a fixed-dose combination medication used to treat tuberculosis. It contains ethambutol, isoniazid, and rifampicin. It is used either along or with other anti-tuberculosis medication. It is taken by mouth. Side effects are those of the underlying medications. Use may not be suitable in children.
Ethambutol/isoniazid/pyrazinamide/rifampicin, also known as ethambutol/isoniazid/pyrazinamide/rifampin, is a medication used for tuberculosis. It is a fixed dose combination of ethambutol, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and rifampicin. It is used either alone or with other antituberculosis medication. It is taken by mouth.
Artesunate/mefloquine is a medication used to treat malaria. It is a fixed dose combination of artesunate and mefloquine. Specifically it is recommended to treat uncomplicated falciparum malaria. It is taken by mouth.
Isoniazid/pyridoxine/sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (INH/B6/CTX) is a fixed-dose combination medication for the prevention of opportunistic infections in HIV/AIDS. It combines isoniazid, pyridoxine, sulfamethoxazole, and trimethoprim. Specifically it is used to prevent tuberculosis, toxoplasmosis, pneumonia, malaria, and isosporiasis. It is taken by mouth.