Abstract

STUDY OF DRUG UTILIZATION PATTERN IN PAEDIATRIC PATIENTS WITH UPPER AND LOWER RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTIONS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

*Vineetha S., P. Sivakumar, Rajasree S., Rosemary Thomas, Sari S. Nair, Arya Alocious

ABSTRACT

A large number of drug utilization studies are available for adults all over the World, but very few studies provide information on drug usage patterns in Pediatrics. The main Objective was to monitor prescribing pattern of drugs used for respiratory tract infectious disorders in paediatrics and to study about the utilization of prescribing indicators through which the rationality can be measured. Its a prospective observational study on drug utilization pattern in pediatric patients with upper and lower respiratory tract infections in a tertiary care hospital. On the basis of inclusion and exclusion criteria, 325 patients were selected from the paediatrics OPD and IPD from a tertiary care hospital over a period of 6 months for the study. The major respiratory tract infections found during the study were upper respiratory tract infections 65.54% and lower respiratory tract infections 34.46%. In this study it was found the most Frequently used classes of drugs are Antimicrobials; 30.98%, followed by Antihistamines; 13.98%, Antitussives; 13.80%, Corticosteroids; 10.97%, NSAIDS/Antipyretics; 10.31%. While, the least prescribed classes were Antiasthmatics; 5.67%, Nasal Decongestants; 3.86% and Others which includes Antiulcer/Antiemetic/Vitamins; 10.43%. WHO prescribing indicators were analyzed and was found to as: Total no of prescriptions: 400, Total no of drugs prescribed: 1659, Average no of drugs per encounter: 4.14, percentage of drugs prescribed by generic name: 12.05%, Percentage of encounter with antibiotic: 83.75%, Percentage of encounter with injection: 17.50%, No of drugs from NLEM: 51.70%.

Keywords: Drug utilization, Respiratory tract infections, Paediatrics, Prescribing indicators.