Antibiotic Prescription Patterns in Children for Upper Respiratory Tract Infections and Diarrhea

A cross sectional study to determine the antibiotic usage trend in children with URTI and Diarrhea in 140 children under 15 years of age visiting the Pediatric OPD. Forty four (31%) patients received antibiotics of which 5 (11.3%) patients received combination antibiotics. Eighteen (24%) patients with nasopharyngitis, 2(16%) patients with pharyngitis, 7(100%) patients with tonsillitis, 7(22.5%) patients with acute diarrhea, 5(62.5%) patients with dysentery and 5(83%) patients with chronic diarrhea received antibiotics. (p=0.014). Amoxicillin (33%) and macrolides (44%) are preferred for nasopharyngitis and only macrolides are used for pharyngitis (100%), while cefixime is used predominantly for acute diarrhea (29%) and dysentery (40%). Metronidazole (60%) is the preferred antibiotic for chronic diarrhea. All five (11%) combination antibiotics prescriptions were for diarrhea and no combinations were given for URTI [p value = 0.003]. From 110 children having symptoms 1week, 14 (48%) were given antibiotics (p value=0.031). Antibiotic prescriptions were judicious and seen in 31% of children with URTI and diarrhea. However use of antibiotics in nasopharyngitis should be minimized. Also use of combination antibiotics especially in children with diarrhea should be discouraged.