Background: Acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) are a major burden to child health in developing countries like India. Preschool children have 4–8 episodes of the upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) per year on average, while school-aged children experience 2–6 episodes per year. They are the most prevalent reason for visits to the outpatient section of a hospital and general practice.
Aim and Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prescribing patterns in patients aged 1–18 years with URTIs.
Materials and Methods: A prospective study conducted in the department of pharmacology at a tertiary health care center. Two hundred and fifty patients with URTI visiting pediatric and ENT department of tertiary health care center during December 2014–June 2015 were studied. Data included detailed history, physical examination, investigations, antimicrobial treatment given, and other treatment given were noted. This data was gathered from the records of Pediatric and ENT department. Statistical tests were used to analyze the data.
Results: The most common clinical presentation was fever and cough. The common diagnosis noted in the study were non-specific URTI, tonsillitis, and sinusitis. Antipyretics (99.6%) and antibiotics (52%) were the frequently prescribed drugs among the patients. Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and cephalosporins were the common antibitoics prescribed. Beta-hemolytic streptococci were the common microbe isolated among the patients tested to know the etiology.
Conclusion: Antipyretics (99.6%) and antibiotics (52%) were the frequently prescribed drugs among the patients. Antibiotics were prescribed in most of the non-specific URTI and pharyngitis which is a matter of concern.
Key words: Upper Respiratory Tract Infection; Antibiotics; Prescription; Antipyretics; Cephalosporins; Beta-Hemolytic Streptococci
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