Detailed work on the content of BNFC has taken place. Publications such as Medicines for Children, local formularies, standard texts on paediatric therapeutics and, naturally, the BNF have been analysed to determine the content of BNFC. Opinion from a wide range of healthcare professionals (in primary and secondary care settings) has been canvassed and presented to the Paediatric Formulary Committee.
Guidance
General notes on the use of medicines are at the beginning of the BNF and they are reflected in BNFC. Topics covered include:
- Guidance on writing paediatric prescriptions (including an explanation of unlicensed and 'off-label' use of medicines)
- Prescribing for neonates
- Prescribing for children
- Prescribing for adolescents
- Methods for calculating paediatric doses
- Identifying and reporting adverse reactions to medicines in children
- Management of overdoses—expanded to include more on accidental poisoning
- Pain management in children
- Palliative care in children
Chapters
BNFC follows the same structure as the BNF but the content within each chapter has been adjusted for a paediatric focus.
The following are examples of advice that may be omitted from BNFC:
- Adult hypertension
- Atheromatous disorders
- Parkinson's disease
- Dementia
- Hormone replacement therapy
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia
- Neoplastic diseases such as breast, prostate and ovarian cancer
- Osteoarthritis
However, the BNFC has been expanded to include more on topics such as:
- Cystic fibrosis
- Nutrition and infant feeding
- Some metabolic disorders
- Skin disorders of childhood
Appendixes
Information in the following appendixes and indexes, which appear in the BNF are also of relevance to BNFC:
- Appendix 1: interactions
- Appendix 2: drugs in liver disease
- Appendix 3: drugs in renal impairment
- Appendix 4: drugs in pregnancy
- Appendix 5: drugs in breast-feeding
- Appendix 6: intravenous infusion
- Appendix 7: Borderline substances
- Index of manufacturers
- Index of 'special-order' manufacturers
