title: Appropriateness of prescribing for childhood eczema: evidence from a community-based study.
abstract: Data on dispensed prescriptions of topical corticosteroids and emollients were analysed in a population of 25 484 children aged<or=6 years in Tayside, Scotland. Over a 17-month period, 5818 (22.8%) children were prescribed a topical corticosteroid; half of this group, (2946; 50.6%) were not prescribed any emollient. In the group of children prescribed topical corticosteroids, 3505/5818 (60.2%) received combined preparations of topical corticosteroids with antimicrobials over this time period, and potent or very potent preparations were prescribed for 923/5818 (15.9%).
authors.affiliation: Tayside Centre for General Practice and Department of Dermatology, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK. miriamcsanter@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santer
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lewis-Jones
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fahey
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004485:Eczema / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004643:Emollients / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012606:Scotland
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004643:Emollients