BNF for Children (BNFC)

13 May 2026

BNF for Children

This update contains 21 significant changes, 2 dose changes, 2 new monographs, and 1 deleted monograph.

Significant changes: 

• Adrenaline/epinephrine: name change to adrenaline.
• Albumin solution: name change to albumin.
• Anti-D (Rh0) immunoglobulin: name change to anti-D immunoglobulins.
• Antidiabetic drugs and drugs with neuromuscular blocking effects: pharmacodynamic effects drug groups deleted from Interactions.
• COVID-19 vaccines: updated guidance on the Spring 2026 immunisation campaign.
• Diphtheria with tetanus and pertussis vaccine: name change to diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccine.
• Diphtheria with tetanus and poliomyelitis vaccine: name change to diphtheria, tetanus, and poliomyelitis vaccine.
• Diphtheria with tetanus, pertussis and poliomyelitis vaccine: name
  change to diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, and poliomyelitis vaccine.
• Diphtheria with tetanus, pertussis, poliomyelitis and haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine: name change to diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, poliomyelitis, and haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine.
• Dried prothrombin complex: name change to prothrombin complex.
• Drugs with anticoagulant effects and drugs with antiplatelet effects: pharmacodynamic effects drug groups combined and renamed as drugs that cause bleeding; see Interactions.
• Haemophilus influenzae type b with meningococcal group C vaccine: name change to haemophilus influenzae type b and meningococcal group C vaccine.
• Influenza: updated guidance on management.
• Measles, mumps and rubella vaccine: name change to measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine.
• Meningococcal group B vaccine (rDNA, component, adsorbed): name change to meningococcal group B vaccine.
• Meningococcal groups A with C and W135 and Y vaccine: name change to meningococcal groups A, C, W135, and Y vaccine.
• Noradrenaline/norepinephrine: name change to noradrenaline.
• Pneumococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccine (adsorbed): name change to pneumococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccine.
• Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine: name change to respiratory syncytial virus vaccine.
• Zanamivir: deleted indication and dose for treatment of influenza [uncomplicated, resistant to other treatments, and inhaled formulation unsuitable].
• Zanamivir: update to indications for prophylaxis and treatment of influenza.

Dose Changes:

• Baloxavir marboxil [update to age ranges and dosing for post-exposure prophylaxis of influenza and treatment of influenza].
• Oseltamivir [update to indication for post-exposure prophylaxis of influenza, and update to dosing for neonates in post-exposure prophylaxis of influenza].

New Monographs:

• Imvanex® [smallpox and mpox vaccines].
• Zavicefta® [ceftazidime with avibactam].

Deleted Monographs: Sotrovimab.

14 April 2026

BNF for Children

This update contains 7 significant changes.

Significant Changes:

• GLP-1 receptor agonists and dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonists: strengthened warnings on acute pancreatitis, including necrotising and fatal cases [MHRA/CHM advice] (advice in dulaglutide, liraglutide, semaglutide; see example in dulaglutide).
• Improving information supplied with Gabapentinoids (pregabalin/gabapentin), Benzodiazepines and Z-drugs [MHRA/CHM advice] (advice in gabapentin, all benzodiazepines; see example in diazepam).
• Isotretinoin: changes to prescribing guidance and additional risk minimisation measures [MHRA/CHM advice].
• Omeprazole : new advice in cautions and renal impairment for oral suspension.
• Semaglutide (Wegovy®, Ozempic®, and Rybelsus®): risk of non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION) [MHRA/CHM advice].
• urea (13C): name change to urea (¹³C).
• Vitamins: updated guidance for management of vitamin D deficiency.

10 March 2026

BNF for Children

This update contains 2 significant changes.

Significant Changes:

• Antibacterials, use for prophylaxis: updated guidance for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.
• Supply of medicines: updated guidance on labelling of prescribed medicines.

10 February 2026

BNF for Children

This update contains 9 significant changes, 3 dose changes and 1 new monograph.

Significant Changes:

• Birch bark extract: name change to birch bark extracts.
• Epilepsy: updated guidance on management.
• Givinostat: new important safety information.
• Mesalazine and idiopathic intracranial hypertension [MHRA/CHM advice].
• Penicillamine: harm from incorrect recording of a penicillin allergy as a penicillamine allergy [National Patient Safety Alert advice].
• Penicillins: harm from incorrect recording of a penicillin allergy as a penicillamine allergy [National Patient Safety Alert advice] (advice in all penicillins; see example in amoxicillin).
• Respiratory system infections, antibacterial therapy: updated guidance on community-acquired pneumonia.
• Respiratory system infections, antibacterial therapy: updated guidance on hospital-acquired pneumonia.
• Vaccination, general principles: updated guidance on vaccination in pregnancy.

Dose Changes:

• Amoxicillin [update to age ranges and duration of treatment for community-acquired pneumonia in children].
• Clarithromycin [update to age ranges and duration of treatment for community-acquired pneumonia in children].
• Erythromycin [update to age ranges and duration of treatment for community-acquired pneumonia in children].

New Monographs:

• Voranigo® [vorasidenib] for Astrocytoma; Oligodendroglioma. 

13 January 2026

BNF for Children

This update contains 15 significant changes, 4 dose changes, 1 new monograph,
1 new preparation, and 1 deleted preparation.

9 December 2025

BNF for Children

This update contains 9 significant changes, and 5 deleted monographs.

Significant Changes:

• Amoxicillin: updated indications and dose for prophylaxis of recurrent urinary-tract infection.
• Cefalexin: updated indications and dose for prophylaxis of recurrent urinary-tract infection.
• Isotretinoin: updates to prescribing guidance and survey of services [MHRA/CHM advice].
• Nitrofurantoin: updated indications and dose for prophylaxis of recurrent urinary-tract infection.
• Rasburicase: harm from delayed administration of rasburicase for tumour lysis syndrome [National Patient Safety Alert advice].
• Rasburicase: update to indication and dosing.
• Sodium clodronate: name change to clodronate disodium.
• Trimethoprim: updated indications and dose for prophylaxis of recurrent urinary-tract infection.
• Ulipristal acetate: updated breast-feeding advice.

Deleted Monographs: Castor oil with collodion and colophony; Colestipol hydrochloride; Macrogol 3350 with anhydrous sodium sulfate, potassium chloride, sodium bicarbonate and sodium chloride; Potassium bicarbonate with potassium acid tartrate; Ranitidine.