Tablets are more acceptable and give fewer problems than syrups among young HIV-infected children in resource limited settings in the ARROW trial.

Abstract

Of 406 HIV-infected Ugandan and Zimbabwean children aged 3 months to 17 years administered antiretroviral drugs in syrup form when enrolled in the ARROW trial during 2007-2008, 236 were switched to tablets between May 2008 and December 2009, at a median age of 2.9 years. Questionnaires were administered to the children's carers at the time of substitution and again 8 weeks later; 186 pairs of questionniares were analysed. It was found that 77% of carers reported problems using syrups; 53% anticipated difficulties using tablets, but only 27% reported such difficulties after 8 weeks, by which time most children (56%) and almost all carers (93%) preferred tablets.

Citation

Presentation from 4th National Paediatric HIV/AIDS conference, Kampala, Uganda, 28-30 September 2010.

Tablets are more acceptable and give fewer problems than syrups among young HIV-infected children in resource limited settings in the ARROW trial.

Updates to this page

Published 1 January 2010