ABSTRACT

TITLE: Pharmacoepidemiological Investigation of AGE In Paediatric Department OF

A Tertiary Care Hospital

AIM & OBEJECTIVE: The main aim of the study is to check the drug utilization indicators
and to evaluate the prescribing pattern of drugs used for acute gastroenteritis in paediatrics.
Also to provide patient counselling to the patients and their parents diagnosed with acute
gastroenteritis.

METHOD: A Prospective observational study was carried out for a period of 9 months in
paediatric department of the hospital. A total of 130 patients diagnosed with AGE were
selected for the study. The study subjects were inpatients and out patients who were visited
the paediatric department because of Acute Gastroenteritis. Data were collected from the
patient medical records and documented in a self-designed Data Entry Form (DEF). The
patients aged above 18 years, antibiotic associated or nosocomial diarrhoea also patients with
concomitant diseases were excluded in the study. The pattern of drug prescribing and the
epidemiological investigation of AGE patients were determined by analysing the data entry
form. All the data were documented and evaluated by simple statistical methods.

RESULTS: 130 patients were included in the study (n=130). The females of age in between
>1month-1 year were more susceptible to AGE than males. The most commonly prescribed
anti-biotic (22.77%), was found to be cefixime followed by ceftriaxone. Diarrhoea was the
most commonly reported symptom in AGE patients and commonly used drug was found to
be racecadrotil. We found that the saccharomyces boulardii and bacillus clausii were the two
probiotics prescribed in AGE treatment in children (6.15%, 12.92%). Out of 6 formulations
most commonly used type of formulation was syrup. Most of the patients reported with
minimal or no dehydration. In this study we found that all patients have acute diarrhoea and
majority of patients having the watery stool.

In this study we found that different drugs prescribed with the average of 3.61 medicines per
patient. The prescribing of antibiotic was higher than the WHO recommended rage and
injections are not prescribed in inpatient settings. The average consultation time and average
dispensing time was found to be 6-8mts and 9-12mts respectively. 96.07% of medicines
actually dispensed and patient with correct knowledge of dosage were 89.53%. Average cost
of drugs per prescription was INR 195.58.Whereas, average cost of antibiotic per encounter
contributed to be INR 87.26.

CONCLUSION