Prescribing pattern of medications in patients of acute diarrhea coming to Medicine OPD, tertiary care teaching hospital

Dr. Maulin Mehta; Dr. Ashutosh Chourishi

Volume : V, Issue : II, February - 2016

Prescribing pattern of medications in patients of acute diarrhea coming to Medicine OPD, tertiary care teaching hospital

Dr. Maulin Mehta, Dr. Ashutosh Chourishi

Abstract :

Background: Diarrhea is defined as an increase in water content and frequency of stools. Infectious diarrhea, a problem of developing countries, affects up to 30% of the populations in developed countries each year. Despite a progressive reduction in global diarrheal disease mortality over the past 2 decades, diarrheal morbidity in published reports from 1990–2000 increased worldwide compared with previous reports. So, the present study was conducted with objective to study prescribing pattern of medications in patients of acute diarrhea coming to medicine OPD, tertiary care teaching hospital. Materials and method: A prospective, observational and non–interventional study was carried out in medicine department on the diarrheal patients who were serially coming over a period of 12 months. Results: Out of 100 patients of diarrhea included in the study, 51 (51%) were male patients and 49 (49%) were female patients. Out of 100 patients of diarrhea, we found that 90% had diarrhea due to infectious etiology. We observed that among the 100 patients, both ciprofloxacin and metronidazole were used for management of 87 (87%) patients while 3 (3%) patients were treated with ceftriaxone. Total percentages of patients with prescribed FDC were 87%. Average numbers of drugs per encounter were 5.61. Other prescribed drug groups were Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS, 100%), probiotics (94%), antiulcer drug (90%), anti–emetic drug (87%), anti motility (10%) and analgesic (3%). Conclusion: A rational prescribing can be offered that is appropriate for the optimal care of the individual patient and for the needs of the community without economical burden.