Description
Practical and evidence-based, BNF for Children (BNFC) is the only child-focused drug formulary in the world that is both independent, and has rigorous, accredited content creation processes.
Relied on by health professionals who prescribe, dispense, and administer medicines to paediatrics, BNFC supports confident decision-making at the point of care, including best practice guidelines and advice from a network of paediatric experts. The process is overseen by a Paediatric Formulary Committee.
Extensive content updates in the BNF for Children 2026-2027 edition include:
New monographs for:
- Abrysvo® [respiratory syncytial virus vaccine] for passive immunisation against respiratory syncytial virus
- Alyftrek® [deutivacaftor with tezacaftor and vanzacaftor] for cystic fibrosis
- Imvanex® [smallpox and mpox vaccines] for pre-exposure immunisation and post-exposure prophylaxis against smallpox and mpox infection
- Nemluvio® [nemolizumab] for moderate-to-severe atopic eczema
- Noxafil® [posaconazole] for treatment of fungal infections (including invasive aspergillosis, fusariosis, chromoblastomycosis, coccidioidomycosis, and mycetoma) when first-line treatment options are ineffective or not tolerated, and prophylaxis of invasive fungal infections in high-risk patients
- Piperaquine phosphate with artenimol for treatment of uncomplicated malaria
- Tzield® [teplizumab] for type 1 diabetes mellitus
- Vimkunya® [chikungunya vaccine (inactivated)] for immunisation against chikungunya
- Zavicefta® [ceftazidime with avibactam] for complicated intra-abdominal infection, complicated urinary tract infection, hospital-acquired pneumonia, and aerobic Gram-negative infections
MHRA advice on:
- GLP-1 receptor agonists and dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonists: strengthened warnings on acute pancreatitis, including necrotising and fatal cases (advice provided in dulaglutide, liraglutide, and semaglutide drug monographs)
- Improving information supplied with gabapentinoids (pregabalin/gabapentin), Benzodiazepines and Z-drugs (advice provided in gabapentin and all benzodiazepines drug monographs)
- Isotretinoin: changes to prescribing guidance and additional risk minimisation measures
- Ivacaftor with tezacaftor and elexacaftor (Kaftrio®): risk of psychological side effects
- Mesalazine: risk of idiopathic intracranial hypertension
- Paracetamol: reminder that taking paracetamol during pregnancy remains safe
- Short-acting beta2-agonists (SABA) (salbutamol and terbutaline sulfate): reminder of the risks from overuse in asthma and to be aware of changes in the SABA prescribing guidelines
- Semaglutide (Wegovy®, Ozempic®, and Rybelsus®): risk of non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION)
- Thiopurines: risk of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (advice provided in azathioprine, mercaptopurine, and tioguanine drug monographs)
- Valproate: updated safety and educational materials to support patient discussion on reproductive risks
Other significant changes include updated guidance on:
- Aciclovir: new dosing for post-exposure prophylaxis of varicella zoster infection
- Adrenaline/epinephrine: name change to adrenaline
- Amoxicillin: updated indications and dose for prophylaxis of recurrent urinary-tract infection
- Antibacterials, principles of therapy: updated guidance on notifiable diseases
- Antibacterials, use for prophylaxis: updated guidance for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and for Haemophilus influenzae type b infection
- Asthma, acute: update to criteria for severity of acute asthma attacks
- Budesonide with formoterol (Symbicort 100/6 Turbohaler ®): updated dosing for asthma, maintenance and reliever therapy
- Cefalexin: updated indications and dose for prophylaxis of recurrent urinary-tract infection
- COVID-19: updated vaccine monograph and guidance on management of COVID-19
- Epilepsy: updated guidance on management
- Genital system infections, antibacterial therapy: updated guidance for management of uncomplicated gonorrhoea
- Givinostat: new important safety information
- Helminth infections: updated guidance for roundworm and hookworm infections
- Hepatitis B vaccine: updated guidance for post-exposure prophylaxis of neonates
- Herpesvirus infections: updated guidance for post-exposure prophylaxis against chickenpox or shingles
- Immunisation schedule: updated guidance
- Influenza vaccine (live): update to cautions
- Life support algorithm: newborn life support algorithm, paediatric basic life support algorithm, paediatric out-of-hospital basic life support algorithm, and paediatric advanced life support algorithm images updated
- Liraglutide: monograph updated to incorporate new preparations
- Malaria, treatment: updated guidance
- Nitrofurantoin: updated indications and dose for prophylaxis of recurrent urinary-tract infection
- Noradrenaline/norepinephrine: name change to noradrenaline
- Normal immunoglobulin: new dosing for post-exposure prophylaxis of varicella-zoster infection
- Ocular corticosteroids and ocular NSAIDs: update to cautions
- Penicillins and Penicillamine: harm from incorrect recording of a penicillin allergy as a penicillamine allergy [National Patient Safety Alert advice]
- Rasburicase: harm from delayed administration of rasburicase for tumour lysis syndrome [National Patient Safety Alert advice]
- Respiratory system infections, antibacterial therapy: updated guidance on community-acquired pneumonia and hospital acquired pneumonia
- Sepsis: updated guidance on intravenous fluids and vasopressors
- Trimethoprim: updated indications and dose for prophylaxis of recurrent urinary-tract infection
- Vaccination, general principles: updated guidance for vaccines and asplenia, splenic dysfunction, or complement disorders and updated guidance on vaccination in pregnancy
- Vitamins: updated guidance for management of vitamin D deficiency
- Zanamivir: update to indications for prophylaxis and treatment of influenza
BNFC is published jointly by BMJ Group, Pharmaceutical Press, RCPCH, and NPPG.
