Antibiotic Prescription Patterns in Children for Upper Respiratory Tract Infections and Diarrhea.
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Date
2013-04
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Abstract
A cross sectional study to determine the antibiotic usage trend in children with URTI and Diarrhea in 140
children under 15 years of age visiting the Pediatric OPD. Forty four (31%) patients received antibiotics of
which 5 (11.3%) patients received combination antibiotics. Eighteen (24%) patients with nasopharyngitis,
2(16%) patients with pharyngitis, 7(100%) patients with tonsillitis, 7(22.5%) patients with acute diarrhea,
5(62.5%) patients with dysentery and 5(83%) patients with chronic diarrhea received antibiotics. (p=0.014).
Amoxicillin (33%) and macrolides (44%) are preferred for nasopharyngitis and only macrolides are used
for pharyngitis (100%), while cefixime is used predominantly for acute diarrhea (29%) and dysentery
(40%). Metronidazole (60%) is the preferred antibiotic for chronic diarrhea. All five (11%) combination
antibiotics prescriptions were for diarrhea and no combinations were given for URTI [p value = 0.003].
From 110 children having symptoms < 1week, only 30 (27%) were given antibiotics while out of 29
children having symptoms for > 1week, 14 (48%) were given antibiotics (p value=0.031). Antibiotic
prescriptions were judicious and seen in 31% of children with URTI and diarrhea. However use of antibiotics
in nasopharyngitis should be minimized. Also use of combination antibiotics especially in children with
diarrhea should be discouraged.
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Keywords
Antibiotic, Upper Respiratory Tract, Infections, Diarrhea
Citation
Maniar Miti, Shah Ira, Rao Sudha. Antibiotic Prescription Patterns in Children for Upper Respiratory Tract Infections and Diarrhea. JK Science Journal of Medical Education and Research. 2013 Apr-June; 15(2): 77-81.