Evidence behind the WHO guidelines: Hospital Care for Children: The usefulness of azole prophylaxis against cryptococcal meningitis in HIV-positive children

The World Health Organization has produced guidelines for the management of common illnesses in hospitals with limited resources. This series reviews the scientific evidence behind WHO’s recommendations.
The WHO guidelines and more reviews are available at http://www.ichrc.org This review addresses the question: The usefulness of azole prophylaxis against cryptococcal meningitis in HIV-positive children.
The WHO Pocketbook of Hospital Care for Children recommends that if a HIV positive child has cryptococcal meningitis then treat with amphotericin for 14 days then fluconazole for a further 8 weeks. Fluconazole prophylaxis is then started after treatment.

• Population(s)
  • Children or Youth (less than 18 years old)
• Co-infections
  • Other
• Health Systems
  • Delivery arrangements