WHO response to BMJ queries

The BMJ invited the World Health Organization to respond to the following questions raised by the article by Kiguli and colleagues on WHO’s guidelines for resuscitation of children with shock:

• To what extent did WHO use the grading of recommendations assessment, development, and evaluations process (GRADE) when drawing up your 2013 guidelines?

• To what extent did WHO use the findings of the FEAST study when revising the 2013 guidelines for the management of common childhood illnesses with respect to shock?

• Can you clarify according to the 2013 guidelines how fluid for children with severe shock (WHO definition) should be given (choice of fluid, rate, and volume)?

• Why did WHO choose to recommend fluid administration contrary to the findings of FEAST in children meeting the WHO …