title: A prospective study on ambulatory care provided by primary care pediatricians during influenza season.
abstract: Aim of this study was to obtain a picture of the nature of the primary care pediatricians' visits during a winter season. We investigated reasons for visits, diagnosis, and pattern of prescription in 284 children. The reason for visit was a planned visit in 54% of cases, a well-being examination in 26%, and an urgent visit for an acute problem in 20% of cases. Cough was the most common symptom reported (61%). The most common pediatricians' diagnosis was flu-like syndrome (47%). No disease was found by pediatrician in 27% of children with a symptom reported by caregivers. Antibiotics were prescribed in 25% of children, the vast majority of which affected by viral respiratory infections. The unjustified access to physician's visit may lead to a inappropriate prescription of drugs.
authors.affiliation: Medicine and Health Sciences Department, University of Molise, c/da Tappino 86100, Campobasso, Italy. antogianna@libero.it.
authors.forename: Antonietta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giannattasio
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lo Vecchio
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Napolitano
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Di Florio
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guarino
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000379:methods*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D058872:Epidemics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009819:Office Visits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012621:Seasons
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000998:Antiviral Agents
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