Children

d4T (stavudine, Zerit) is licensed for use in children. Dosing is as follows:

• Neonatal/infant dose (up to 13 days of age) is 0.5mg and 40 mg/kg every 12 hours.
• Age 14 days to a weight of 30 kilograms, dosing is 1mg/kg twice daily.
• Adolescents weighing 30 kilograms or more are dosed at the adult dose; that is, up to 60 kilos, use 30mg twice daily and for those 60 kilograms or more, 40mg twice daily.^[1]

WHO does not recommend that anyone use d4T at a dose higher than 30mg. Please check the online site for the most current information.

Studies have shown than the incidence of side-effects in children taking d4T is similar to that in adults.

Two studies have demonstrated that d4T-containing combinations are effective in very young infants:

• With ddI (didanosine, Videx/VidexEC) and nelfinavir (Viracept), although this has a high rate of virological failure.^[2]
• With 3TC (lamivudine, Epivir), nevirapine (Viramune), and nelfinavir: this combination can bring about viral suppression for up to four years in the majority of infants.^[3]