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An examination of the prescribed therapeutic experience of five-year-olds in general practice
Insights
Pediatric prescriptions reveal high antibiotic and cough medicine use. Most children under five received antibiotics, with many also getting cough or skin treatments.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric pharmacology
- Child health outcomes
- Medication safety in pediatrics
Background:
- Understanding medication patterns in early childhood is crucial for assessing healthcare utilization and potential risks.
- Prescription data provides insights into common childhood ailments and treatment trends.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the quantity and types of medications prescribed to children before age five.
- To identify the most frequent therapeutic categories of prescriptions in this age group.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of medical records for 92 children.
- Categorization of 1,241 individual prescriptions based on therapeutic group.
Main Results:
- Antibiotics accounted for 33% of prescriptions, with 96% of children receiving at least one course (average 4.5 courses).
- Antihistamines or cough linctus represented 31% of prescriptions, with 89% of children receiving them.
- Skin preparations were prescribed to 50% of the children.
Conclusions:
- Children under five are frequently prescribed antibiotics and medications for respiratory symptoms.
- The high rate of antibiotic use warrants further investigation into appropriate prescribing practices and potential for antimicrobial resistance.
- Comprehensive data on pediatric prescription patterns is essential for public health initiatives and clinical guideline development.
Abstract:
The number and therapeutic grouping of prescriptions given to children before reaching their fifth birthday were examined. The records of 92 children were looked at. Between them they had received 1,241 individual prescriptions of which 33 per cent were for antibiotics, and 31 per cent for an antihistamine or cough linctus. Ninety-six per cent of the children had received at least one course of antibiotics and the average child 4.5 courses (SD +/- 3.9); 89 per cent had received an antihistamine or cough linctus, and 50 per cent a skin preparation.
