Volume 33 Number 1 (2024)
Current Trends of Using Antimicrobials in Acute Watery Diarrhoea in Children Below 5 Years of Age at Paediatrics Outpatient Department of a Tertiary Care Hospital in Bangladesh
Saha BC1 , Ahmed AU2 , Chowdhury B3 , Zannat KE4 , Afrin A5 , Joynal JB6
Mymensingh Med J 2024 Jan; 33 (1): 23-30
PMID: 38163769
Abstract
Childhood diarrhoea is a major public health problem in developing countries like Bangladesh which is commonly caused by intestinal infection, mainly viral. Diarrhoea is causing second leading mortality in children below 5 years, where about 2 billion cases occur globally in each year. This study was proposed to evaluate the antimicrobials utilization pattern prescribed for AWD in children below 5 years of age, in a tertiary care hospital in Bangladesh. This record based, cross-sectional, descriptive type of observational study carried out at pharmacology department of Mymensingh Medical College. A total of 205 diarrhoeal patient’s up to 5 years of age, attending the paediatric OPD from January 2021 to December 2021, were enrolled in the study. Out of 205 patients 182(88.8%) were prescribed antimicrobials. Azithromycin was the most frequently prescribed antimicrobial (60.0%) and among the antiprotozoals metronidazole was the prescribed most (24.9%). ORS and Zinc were prescribed in all patients (100%). Empirical excessive use of antibiotics was observed in this study. Emphasis on educational and training programs may help in a better and judicious use of drugs in children.
Keywords: Acute watery diarrhoea (AWD), Under-5 children, Outpatient department (OPD), Antimicrobials, ORS, Zinc
- M Phil (Pharmacology)