BNF for Children 2011-2012

BNFC 2011–2012xiHow to use BNF for ChildrenBNF for Children (BNFC) provides information onthe use of medicines in children ranging from neonates(including preterm neonates) to adolescents.The terms infant, child, and adolescent are not usedconsistently in the literature; to avoid ambiguityactual ages are used in the dose statements inBNFC. The term neonate is used to describe a newborninfant aged 0–28 days. The terms child orchildren are used generically to describe the entirerange from infant to adolescent in BNFC.In order to achieve the safe, effective, and appropriateuse of medicines in children, healthcare professionalsmust be able to use BNFC effectively, and keep up todate with significant changes in each new edition ofBNFC that are relevant to their clinical practice. How toUse BNF for Children is aimed as a quick refresher forall healthcare professionals involved with prescribing,monitoring, supplying, and administering medicines forchildren, and as a learning aid for students training tojoin these professions. While How to Use BNF forChildren is linked to the main elements of rationalprescribing, the generic structure of this section meansthat it can be adapted for teaching and learning indifferent clinical settings.Finding information in BNFCBNFC includes a number of aids to help access relevantinformation:. Index (p. 811), where entries are included in alphabeticalorder of non-proprietary drug names, proprietarydrug names, clinical conditions, and prescribingtopics. A specific entry for ‘DentalPrescribing’ brings together topics of relevance todental surgeons. The page reference to the drugmonograph is shown in bold type. References todrugs in Appendices 1 and 3 are not included in themain Index;. Contents (p. iii), provides a hierarchy of how informationin BNFC is organised;. The beginning of each chapter includes a classifiedhierarchy of how information is organised in thatchapter;. Running heads, located next to the page number onthe top of each page, show the section of BNFC thatis being used;. Thumbnails, on the outer edge of each page, showthe chapter of BNFC that is being used;. Cross-references, lead to additional relevant informationin other parts of BNFC.Structure of BNFCThe Contents list (on p. iii) shows that information inBNFC is divided into:. How BNF for Children is Constructed (p. ix);. Changes for this Edition (p. xvii);. General Guidance (p. 1), which provides practicalinformation on many aspects of prescribing fromwriting a prescription to prescribing in palliativecare;. Emergency Treatment of Poisoning (p. 24), whichprovides an overview on the management of acutepoisoning;. Classified notes on clinical conditions, drugs, andpreparations, these notes are divided into 15 chapters,each of which is related to a particular systemof the body (e.g. chapter 3, Respiratory System) orto an aspect of paediatric care (e.g. chapter 5,Infections). Each chapter is further divided intoclassified sections. Each section usually beginswith prescribing notes followed by relevant drugmonographs and preparations (see fig. 1). Drugsare classified in a section according to their pharmacologyand therapeutic use;. Appendices and Indices, includes 4 Appendices(providing information on drug interactions, borderlinesubstances, cautionary and advisory labels fordispensed medicines, and intravenous infusions forneonatal intensive care), the Dental Practitioners’Formulary, the Nurse Prescribers’ Formulary, NonmedicalPrescribing, Index of Manufacturers, andthe main Index. The information in the Appendicesshould be used in conjunction with relevant informationin the chapters.Finding dental information in BNFCExtra signposts have been added to help access dentalinformation in BNFC:. Prescribing in Dental Practice (p. 22), includes acontents list dedicated to drugs and topics of relevanceto dentists, together with cross-references tothe prescribing notes in the appropriate sections ofBNFC. For example, a review of this list shows thatinformation on the local treatment of oral infectionsis located in chapter 12 (Ear, Nose, and Oropharynx)while information on the systemic treatmentof these infections is found in chapter 5 (Infections).Further guidance for dental practice can befound in the BNF.. Side-headings, in the prescribing notes, side-headingsfacilitate the identification of advice on oralconditions (e.g. Dental and Orofacial Pain, p. 199);. Dental prescribing on NHS, in the body of BNFC,preparations that can be prescribed using NHS formFP10D (GP14 in Scotland, WP10D in Wales) can beidentified by means of a note headed ‘Dental prescribingon NHS’ (e.g. Aciclovir Oral Suspension,p. 323).Identifying effective drug treatmentsThe prescribing notes in BNFC provide an overview ofthe drug management of common conditions and facilitaterapid appraisal of treatment options (e.g. epilepsy,p. 215). For ease of use, information on the managementof certain conditions has been tabulated (e.g. acuteasthma, p. 136).Advice issued by the National Institute for Health andClinical Excellence (NICE) is integrated within BNFC