Drug-related hospitalization in paediatric patients

A survey, to estimate drug-related hospitalization, was conducted by a clinical pharmacist who participated in medical rounds on a paediatric ward. Data were collected from patients' medical charts and verified by the attending physicians and the patients and/or their guardians. Adverse drug reactions and inappropriate therapy were defined with criteria supported by medical publications. Approximately 18% of the 906 studied admissions were found to be drug-related; 11.0% as a result of inappropriate drug therapy, 3.4% as a result of patient non-compliance and 3.2% because of adverse reactions. Antineoplastic agents were responsible for most adverse reactions that led to hospital admission. They were followed by corticosteroids, antimicrobials and by anticonvulsants. The last two groups of drugs were also responsible for hospitalization because of inappropriate drug therapy and patient non-compliance. Adverse drug reactions were more prevalent in females, in 6-10-year-old children, in patients of Ashkenazic origin and in patients who have experienced similar reactions in the past. Non-compliance was more prevalent in patients of Sephardic origin.