Drug Prescribing Pattern in Respiratory Tract Infection in Children Aged 1 to 12 Years at Outpatient Department at Silchar Medical College and Hospital, Assam, India

Bikash Gairola; Choudhury Devarsi; Phukan Daisy; Deka Anupama

Drug Prescribing Pattern in Respiratory Tract Infection in Children Aged 1 to 12 Years at Outpatient Department at Silchar Medical College and Hospital, Assam, India

Bikash Gairola, Choudhury Devarsi, Phukan Daisy, Deka Anupama

Abstract

This cross-sectional prospective study done at the outpatient department (OPD) of paediatrics of Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH) from September 2014 to August 2015 with the aim and objective of: (i) analyzing the pattern of prescription in respiratory tract infection (RTI) in children aged 1–12 years and (ii) evaluating the rational use of drugs from these prescriptions. The prescriptions in paediatric OPD were collected from the parents/legal guardians after explaining the purpose of the study and taking their consent. The prescriptions were collected, and the data were filled in a data sheet for a period of 12 months. Then the data were subjected to descriptive analysis and the results were observed. The patients in the study suffered from RTI. The most common diagnosis was nonspecific upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) followed by non-specific lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI). Polypharmacy is practised in the Department of Paediatrics. The average number of drugs in prescription is 3.133. The prescribing of drugs by generic name is 34.615%. The prescribing from the national list of essential medicine is very low 22.649%. The prescription of injection is zero. The prescription of antibiotic is 29.91%. Bronchodilators and cough preparation were most commonly prescribed drugs (83.482%). Non steroidal Anti inflammatory drugs were the second most commonly prescribed drugs. Amongst NSAIDs, paracetamol was prescribed highest (99.428%). The antihistamines, nasal decongestants and anthelmintics were co-prescribed in the prescriptions, vitamins and minerals and other drugs were also prescribed in abundance though there is no evidence of the usefulness of these drugs in respiratory tract infection (RTI). The present study shows that the paediatricians should update their knowledge regarding rational use of medicine in RTI, which is self limiting most of the times.

Keywords

RTIs, antibiotics, bronchodilators, antihistamines, children

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