Clinical Patterns of Lower Respiratory Tract Infection and their Prescription Pattern Analysis of Paediatric Patients in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Lower Respiratory Tract Infection (LRTI) is infection below the level of the larynx and may be taken to include bronchiolitis, bronchitis and pneumonia. The presentation of these conditions will depend on age, infecting organism and site of infection. LTRI is the largest cause of morbidity among children under five across the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 2 million children under five years of age die due to pneumonia. In developing countries 30% of adults and 25% of pediatric inpatients are diagnosed with acute respiratory tract infection. It is significant health problem in India also. The use of antimicrobial agents has become a routine practice for the treatment of pediatric illnesses, and antibiotics are among the most commonly prescribed drugs in pediatrics. Rational use of antibiotic is very necessary to avoid resistance. It was observed that prescription from NLEM was 3.35 drugs, suggesting rational approach in giving the treatment, but prescription by generic name was not there which needs the improvement. There is a need of educational programmes in order to bring rational use of antibiotics that requires development of standard guidelines for antibiotic prescription. It is also needed to create awareness in parents regarding the risk-benefit of antibiotics or other drugs for the self-limiting condition. This study will help the clinicians to know about pattern of antibiotics used and types of LRTI in paediatric patient