A STUDY TO EVALUATE THE PREVALENCE AND PRESCRIPTION PATTERN OF ACUTE GASTROENTERITIS IN PAEDIATRIC PATIENTS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Background: Acute gastroenteritis is usually considered – a benign disease, remains a major cause of pediatric morbidity and mortality around the world. Materials and Methods: An observational cross-sectional study conducted in indoor / outdoor patient department of Pediatrics in Government Medical College and Rajindra Hospital, Patiala for 6 months. Demographic data and complete prescriptions of patients suffering from acute gastroenteritis (age >1month to 6 years) were collected and analyzed by using five World Health Organization Core prescribing indicators. Categorical data was analyzed by chi-square test and quantitative data was analyzed by descriptive method. Prevalence of disease was calculated. Results: In total 60 patients, male patients (58.33%) were found to be more infected than female patients (41.67%). In age group of 0-2 years more males 82.86%, and in age group of 2-5 years and 5-6 years more females i.e., 80% and 12%, respectively were found to be infected with acute gastroenteritis. Most prescribed class of drug was drugs acting on gastrointestinal tract (51.46%) followed by fluid & electrolytes (22.7%), antimicrobials (11.6%), vitamins (7.84%) and non- steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (6.4%). Prevalence of disease was 2.67 %. Conclusion: In present study, male patients in age group of 0-2 years were more infected with acute gastroenteritis. Most prescribed class of drug was related to gastrointestinal tract i.e., elemental zinc followed by ORS. In antimicrobials, ceftriaxone was the most prescribed drug.