WHO rules may be killing, not saving children in Africa

The number of children’s lives that would be saved by changing the way fluids are given to children in shock would greatly reduce the overall mortality rates in most hospitals.

“Clinicians were being trained across various hospitals to identify shock and treat it with rapid infusion of fluids according to the WHO guidelines. This practice was just beginning to catch up so these results are very timely,” said Dr Akech.

Feast underscores the need for African researchers to re-think recommendations based on research carried out outside the continent.

“African children are not different from those in western countries but their circumstances are different. They are exposed to a different profile of illnesses, for example there is hardly any malaria in the countries where a lot of the practice is based on.

The hospitals where most African children go for care may also lack facilities to for example resuscitate children who deteriorate fast and therefore require a more cautious approach in the treatments offered.

The trial illustrates that African clinical researchers need to look again at the diseases that most affect our children, how we manage them and whether the current management practices are the most appropriate,’ Dr Sam Akech said.