Compassionate use of new drugs in children and adolescents with multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis: early experiences and challenges

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 480 000 new multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis (TB) cases occurred globally in 2014, with 190 000 deaths. Limited data are available on the burden of MDR-TB in children. A recent systematic review estimated that 32 000 children acquire MDR-TB annually; of these, very few are correctly diagnosed and provided with appropriate treatment [1]. First experience and challenges of compassionate use of new anti-TB drugs to treat MDR- and XDR-TB in children <http://ow.ly/SWXF300a0UX> The authors wish to thank Gunar Günther (Dept of Medicine, University of Namibia, School of Medicine, Windhoek, Namibia), Zarir F. Udwadia (Dept of Respiratory Medicine, P.D. Hinduja National Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Mumbai, India) and Charles Ssonko (Médecins Sans Frontières, Mbabane, Swaziland) for providing information on their cases. The authors alone are responsible for the views expressed in this article and they do not necessarily represent the decisions and policies of their institutions.