Paediatric inpatient morbidity patterns and drug usage in a teaching hospital serving an underdeveloped area

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Medicine
• Clinical Pharmacy
• Global Health

Background:

• Understanding morbidity patterns and drug utilization in pediatric populations is crucial for healthcare planning in developing regions.
• Limited data exists on drug prescribing trends and associated adverse events in hospitalized children in resource-limited settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prospectively investigate the primary causes of hospitalization and drug usage patterns among children in a developing area.
• To identify the most frequently prescribed drug classes, common infections, and adverse drug reactions.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study of 347 hospitalized children (aged 0-12 years) over a six-month period.
• Data collection included reasons for admission, diagnoses, prescribed medications, and treatment outcomes.
• Analysis of morbidity patterns, drug classes, and adverse drug reactions.

Main Results:

• Respiratory tract diseases (30.5%) and infectious diseases (26.1%) were the most common admissions, with tuberculosis being the leading infection.
• Antimicrobials (60.8%), iron preparations (45.5%), and vitamins (43.2%) were the most frequently used drug classes; ampicillin was the most common antimicrobial.
• Adverse drug reactions occurred in 1.7% of children, with an overall mortality rate of 9.2%. Polypharmacy (more than 4 drugs) was common (54.4%), and two-thirds received parenteral therapy.

Conclusions:

• Respiratory and infectious diseases significantly burden pediatric hospitalizations in this developing region.
• Antimicrobial stewardship and rational drug use are critical, given the high rates of antimicrobial prescription and polypharmacy.
• Further research into optimizing drug regimens and reducing adverse events is warranted to improve pediatric outcomes.