Acute respiratory infections in primary health care centres in northern Saudi Arabia.
This study was carried out in the northern region of Saudi Arabia during 1419 AH (1998 AD). A random sample of 1200 prescriptions was analysed to determine the magnitude of factors associated with acute respiratory infections (ARI) and their treatment. ARI were diagnosed in more than one-third of the prescriptions analysed, of which upper respiratory infections accounted for 65.8%, and pneumonia less than 1%. The prevalence of ARI was significantly higher in urban areas, among children, among males and during the colder seasons of the year. Antibiotics were prescribed for 87.8% of patients. This study reinforces the need to implement forthwith the Saudi national programme for diagnosis and treatment of ARI.
Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Mansoura, Mansoura, Egypt.
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el-Gilany
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003151:Community Health Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009313:National Health Programs; D020380:Needs Assessment; D011159:Population Surveillance; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012621:Seasons; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents