An Observational Study on Acute Gastroenteritis in Paediatric Patients in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Background: Acute gastroenteritis is the common gastro-intestinal infections in paediatrics accounting for paediatric mortality Objectives: The goal of the study was to assess the prevalence and prescription pattern of acute gastroenteritis in paediatric inpatients. Methodology: A prospective observational study was carried out for a period of six months at Paediatric department of Basaveshwara Medical College & Hospital, Chitradurga. Results: A total of 113 patient’s data with gastro-intestinal infections were collected from in-patient of Paediatric department. 95 were diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis. Among them 54 were males and 41were females. This study showed that males between 0-2 years were more prone to Acute gastroenteritis than in females of 6 year age group. The most commonly prescribed class of drug was found to be Drugs acting on GI (Elemental Zinc 25.47%) followed by Antimicrobials (Ceftriaxone 23.34%), NSAIDs (Paracetamol 18.40%) and Vitamins (3.77%) in paediatric population. Conclusion: The study concluded that male patients between 0-2 years were more prone to acute gastroenteritis when compared with female patients. Cephalosporins were the most prescribed Antimicrobial drug. The study shown that among Drugs acting on GI Elemental Zinc was the most commonly prescribed drug