Abstract

DRUG UTILIZATION PATTERN IN PAEDIATRIC PERITONITIS

Jayakrishnan S. S.* and Kiron S. S.

ABSTRACT

Peritonitis is defined as inflammation of a portion or all of the parietal and visceral peritoneum. In peritonitis, an infection can rapidly spread into the blood (sepsis) and then to other organs, carrying the risk of multiple organ failure and if left untreated death will occur. The objective of the study was to determine the drug utilization pattern of peritonitis among paediatric population. It was a Descriptive study for a period o6 months with 115 patients. All paediatric patients diagnosed clinically with peritonitis reporting to the Department of Paediatric Surgery for undergoing treatment. A written informed consent was taken in a prescribed format from the patient/caregiver diagnosed with peritonitis. Patient who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled for the study. All the information relevant to the study was collected from case records and direct interview with the patient / caregiver by the help of a physician. In the study, majority of patients (43.5%) were in the age group of 7-10 years and were males. The drugs were classified into 9 classes, depending on the therapeutic indications. Majority of patients were given drugs belonging to Antibiotics in class I (100%), followed by Antiulcers in class –IV (97.4%). Drugs belonging to class- VI Antiemetics (18.3%) were the least used in the study population. Other categories of drugs in the study population included class – II used as Analgesics and Antipyretics (93.9%), class – VIII as Vitamins (45.2%), class – IX i.e, Miscellaneous drugs (32.2%), class V as Laxatives (29.6%), class VII (27.8%) used as Antiasthmatics and Antispasmodics class III (26.1%). The study is concluded by the demographic and drug utilization pattern in paediatric peritonitis. Drug utilization evaluation played a key role in helping health care system to understand, interrupt and improve the prescribing, administration and use of medications.

Keywords: Antibiotics, DUE, Peritonitis, Prescribing, Sepsis, Utilization Pattern.