Dengue has now become a rapidly spreading major public health problem worldwide. The risk of the disease is especially high among children, and in many cases the complications can be severe. With this reality in mind, the World Health Organization (WHO) has, for the first time, published new guidance for developing separate dengue treatment for children.
Published on June 15, 2026, the guidance prioritises the development of child-focused dengue treatment. The organisation says there is still no specific, approved treatment for dengue. Patients are usually treated and brought to recovery through supportive care, which is often not enough for children.
Why children need separate treatment
The WHO says children’s bodies respond differently to the dengue virus than adults’ do. In many children, the disease can quickly progress to a severe stage. As a result, it has become essential to have separate, specific treatment methods for them. The new guidance says future dengue drugs and treatment methods should be made suitable for children. This is not just a matter of dosage but also of the formulation, safety and usability of the medicine.
What the new PADO initiative says
The guidance has come through the WHO’s Paediatric Drug Optimization (PADO) process. Its purpose is to chart the path for developing suitable drugs and treatment for children.
Under the initiative, experts have set priorities among various potential dengue drugs, research and development plans, and investment. Some treatment methods under development have been placed on the priority list, which could play an important role in treating children within the next few years.
Research and future plans
The WHO says research on children in dengue treatment must begin more quickly. It has advised starting research on children only after results are available from the clinical trials under way for adults.
It has also stressed creating separate research and treatment plans that take into account the symptoms of dengue in children, their nutritional status and other physical issues.
Experts’ views
Officials of the WHO’s science and health department have said that to create safe and effective treatment for children, their needs must be considered from the start. If added later, the treatment framework may not be effective enough.
Various health experts and research organisations see the initiative as an important advance for children.
Why this guidance matters
The number of dengue patients in the world is rising, and a large share of them are children. In many countries, advanced treatment facilities are still limited. As a result, specific guidance for children will have a major impact on future treatment development, research and health policymaking.
This new WHO guidance has opened a new direction in children’s dengue treatment, which could pave the way for safer and more effective treatment systems in the future.
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