Abstract

A STUDY ON THE USAGE OF ANTIBIOTICS IN VARIOUS INFECTIONS IN PEDIATRICS

Bincy T. Abraham*, Jean Rachel Samuel and Jeena S.K.

Abstract

A prospective observational study was conducted by collecting data from pediatric patient’s case records and thereby an assessment was done on the usage of antibiotics in treating various infections among pediatrics. Data was collected from a total of 90 pediatric patients, out of this 41.1% (n = 37) were male and 58.8% (n = 53) were female. Out of the total, 71.1% (n = 64) were children, 17.7% (n = 16) were adolescents and 10% (n = 9) were infants. The clinical condition for which antibiotics were prescribed in the highest rate was respiratory tract infection that accounted for 43.3% (n = 39) cases followed by fever in 23.3% (n = 21) cases and gastrointestinal tract infection in 18.8% (n = 17) cases and urinary tract infection in 5.5% (n = 5) cases. And most of the patients with Respiratory tract infection received monotherapy with antibiotic Amoxicillin which accounted for 28.2% (n = 11) cases followed by dual therapy with Ceftriaxone + Amikacin in 15.4% (n = 6) cases. The patients affected by gastro intestinal tract infection were commonly prescribed with the antibiotic Metronidazole as a monotherapy in 11.8% (n = 3) cases and a dual therapy of Metronidazole + Amoxicillin in 17.6% (n = 3) cases. While those suffering with Urinary tract infection were treated with Norfloxacin in 60% (n = 3) cases and a combination treatment regimen with Ciprofloxacin + Ampicillin in 40% (n = 2) cases [Figure 9, Table 9]. Out of 21 patients affected by fever, 42.8% (n = 9) cases were given monotherapy with amoxicillin and 9.5% (n = 2) cases were treated with a combination regimen of Ceftriaxone + Ciprofloxacin.

Keywords: Antibiotic, pediatrics, respiratory tract infection, urinary tract infection.