The viral diarrhoea epidemic 2002 in the Marshall Islands: its impact on a small island pharmacy.
This paper describes the increased demands on the pharmacy department of Majuro Hospital in the Marshall Islands during a recent viral diarrhoea epidemic. It discusses the increased number of patients, the increased usage of drugs and also the increased costs during this epidemic. The number of patients only rose 10%. However, the increase in workload of the outpatient department, laboratory and the pharmacy department was much greater. The percentage of children presenting to the outpatient department with diarrhoea increased from 10% to 80%. Oral rehydration solution (ORS) was the most common medication given during the epidemic in line with the World Health Organisation Guidelines.
Harding
Andrew
A
Majuro Hospital, PO Box 16, Majuro, Republic of Marshall Islands, MH 96960. anka@ozemail.com.au
D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003906:Developing Countries; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017723:Drug Utilization Review; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D005440:Fluid Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005872:Giardia / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007755:Laboratories, Hospital / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008849:Micronesia / Q000453:epidemiology; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use
D014815:Vitamins; D000082:Acetaminophen