Use of cold medications for upper respiratory tract infections in children.
Prescribing practices in the treatment of upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) in children were studied, with particular emphasis on overuse of antibiotics, combination cold medications, and off-label use of medicines in children. Prescriptions with the diagnosis of URTI were studied over a period of 5 months in a general pediatric clinic. Out of 224 prescriptions scrutinized, a cold medication was prescribed in 88.4% of cases and 50.9% prescriptions contained a combination preparation. Antihistamines (50.9%), alpha-adrenoceptor agonist decongestants (50.0%) and opioid anti-tussives (24.5%) were the common ingredients of cold medications. Antihistamines (35.7%) were also used alone. Of the children 18.2% were receiving a drug contraindicated or not recommended in their age group. Antibiotics were prescribed in only 8.5% of cases, and for appropriate indications, reflecting a more restrained use of antibiotics.
Jhaj
R
R
Department of Pharmacology, Government Medical College, Chandigarh, India.
Bhargava
V K
VK
Uppal
R
R
Lekha
S
S
Reeta
K
K
Kaur
N
N
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003139:Common Cold / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D004338:Drug Combinations; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations