''BNF for Children'' (''BNF for Children'') is the standard UK

paediatric Pediatrics (American English) also spelled paediatrics (British English), is the branch of medicine Medicine is the science and Praxis (process), practice of caring for patients, managing the Medical diagnosis, diagnosis, prognosis, Prev ...

reference for prescribing and

pharmacology Pharmacology is the science of drugs and medications, including a substance's origin, composition, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, therapeutic use, and toxicology. More specifically, it is the study of the interactions that occur betwee ...

. It contains a wide range of information and advice on prescribing for children - from newborn to adolescence. The entries are classified by group of drug, giving cautions for use,

side effect In medicine, a side effect is an effect of the use of a medicinal drug or other treatment, usually adverse but sometimes beneficial, that is unintended. Herbal and traditional medicines also have side effects. A drug or procedure usually use ...

s, indications and dose for most of the drugs available for children in the UK

National Health Service The National Health Service (NHS) is the term for the publicly funded health care, publicly funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom: the National Health Service (England), NHS Scotland, NHS Wales, and Health and Social Care (Northern ...

. It also includes information on the unlicensed uses of certain drugs. Though published in and for the United Kingdom, the vast bulk of the clinical information will apply in any country.

Authorship and Publication

''BNF for Children'' is jointly published annually by

BMJ ''The BMJ'' is a fortnightly peer-reviewed medical journal, published by BMJ Publishing Group Ltd, which in turn is wholly-owned by the British Medical Association (BMA). ''The BMJ'' has editorial freedom from the BMA. It is one of the world' ...

(owned by the BMA), Pharmaceutical Press (owned by the RPS), Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, and the Neonatal & Paediatric Pharmacy Group. The principal contributors are acknowledged in the front pages. It is overseen by BNF for Children Paediatric Formulary Committee and edited by a team of

pharmacist A pharmacist, also known as a chemist in English in the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth English, is a healthcare professional who is knowledgeable about preparation, mechanism of action, clinical usage and legislation of medications in ...

History

BNF for Children developed from the British National Formulary (BNF), which prior to 2005 had provided information on the treatment of children, with the doses largely determined by calculations based on the body weight of the child. The guidance was provided by pharmacists and doctors whose expertise was in the care of adults. This was an anomaly, as in relation to responses to medicines, the difference between a newborn and a sixteen-year-old is greater than the difference between a sixteen-year-old and a sixty-year-old. Starting in 2002, Prof Martin Kendall, then chairman of BNF Joint Formulary Committee worked to get things changed. The first edition was published in 2005, with George Rylance chairing the Paediatric Formulary Committee and Dinesh Mehta as the first executive editor. Anne, the Princess Royal attended the launch on 14 July.

Editions

BNF for Children is published annually, but electronic updates are produced monthly. The current 2022-2023 edition was published in September 2022.

Availability

Though not aimed at the general public, BNF for Children, like BNF, is available for purchase.
It is provided to NHS staff - usually through their employer, but may be accessed online through MedicinesComplete.
The app is available through the usual app stores.

* How BNF and BNFC are constructed * How to use BNF and BNFC in print * Changes * Guidance on Prescribing * Prescription writing * Supply of medicines * Emergency supply of medicines * Controlled drugs and drug dependence * Adverse reactions to drugs * Guidance on intravenous infusions * Prescribing in hepatic impairment * Prescribing in renal impairment * Prescribing in pregnancy * Prescribing in breast-feeding * Prescribing in palliative care * Drugs and sport * Medicines optimisation * Antimicrobial stewardship * Prescribing in dental practice * NOTES ON DRUGS AND PREPARATIONS * 1 Gastro-intestinal system * 2 Cardiovascular system * 3 Respiratory system * 4 Nervous system * 5 Infection * 6 Endocrine system * 7 Genito-urinary system * 8 Immune system and malignant disease * 9 Blood and nutrition * 10 Musculoskeletal system * 11 Eye * 12 Ear, nose and oropharynx * 13 Skin * 14 Vaccines * 15 Anaesthesia * 16 Emergency treatment of poisoning * APPENDICES AND INDICES * Interactions * Borderline substances * Cautionary and advisory labels for dispensed medicines * Dental Practitioners’ Formulary * Nurse Prescribers’ Formulary * Non-medical prescribing * Index of manufacturers * Special-order Manufacturers * Index * Medical emergencies in the community

References

{{reflist

External links

Pharmaceutical Press

BNF

BNFC

Neonatal & Paediatric Pharmacists Group

Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health

British Medical Association
Pharmacology literature Pharmaceuticals policy Professional associations based in the United Kingdom Pharmacy in the United Kingdom