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Drug utilization by children in Tenerife Island
1Department of Pharmacology and Physical Medicine, University of La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain.
Insights
Antibiotic prescriptions were common in children under 14 in Tenerife. Over 40% of prescriptions were for infections, with combination drugs frequently used.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Pharmacology
- Public Health
Background:
- Understanding pediatric drug utilization is crucial for optimizing treatment outcomes and minimizing adverse effects.
- Prescription patterns in outpatient settings can reveal trends in disease prevalence and therapeutic practices.
- Limited data exists on drug prescribing habits for children in specific geographic regions like the Canary Islands.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze drug utilization patterns in children under 14 years old in Tenerife.
- To identify the most common reasons for physician visits and associated drug prescriptions.
- To evaluate the types of drugs prescribed, including antibiotics and combination formulations.
Main Methods:
- A random sample of 1327 children under 14 years old was studied in Tenerife.
- Data collection included diagnoses, previous drug exposure, and prescription details from 15 pediatricians and 10 general practitioners.
- Prescription data was analyzed for drug classes, specific products, and patient demographics.
Main Results:
- Nose and throat infections were the primary diagnosis (40.1%), followed by respiratory diseases (10.2%) and cold/influenza symptoms (10.5%).
- Antibiotics constituted 28.5% of all prescriptions.
- The youngest age group (0-2 years) received more medication than older children; 42.4% of prescriptions were for combination drugs, and 8.4% of children received no medication.
Conclusions:
- Antibiotics are frequently prescribed for common childhood infections in Tenerife.
- A significant proportion of prescriptions involve combination drugs, warranting further investigation into their appropriateness.
- Drug prescribing practices, including for healthy children during check-ups, suggest potential areas for intervention to improve rational drug use.
Abstract:
Drug utilization was studied in children below 14 years of age in Tenerife, Canary Islands, who were seen as outpatients by 15 paediatricians and 10 general practitioners. Data on diagnosis, previous drug exposure and prescriptions were collected from a random sample of 1327 children. Nose and throat infections (40.1%), respiratory diseases (10.2%) and miscellaneous symptoms, namely common cold, influenza or nasal congestion (10.5%), were the most frequent reasons for visiting a physician. Antibiotics represented 28.5% of the prescriptions. The youngest group (0-2 years) received more drugs than the other two groups (2-6 and 6-14 years), and 8.4% of the children did not receive any drug. Only 358 (5.1%) of the 7,000 pharmaceutical specialities available were used, and the 10 most frequently prescribed drug products constituted more than 30% of all prescriptions. Combination drugs accounted for 42.4% of the prescribed items. Healthy children presenting only for check up were frequently treated with drugs.