Current Pediatric Research

Background: Diarrheal disorders in childhood account for large proportion of deaths. They may have significant impact on psychomotor and cognitive development in young children. In a community with high incidence of diarrhea (like the Iraqi one), proper management is expected to reduce morbidity and mortality. Aim of the study: To see how common antimicrobials were used at home for diarrhea, what type of antimicrobials? Patients and Methods: The mothers (or the accompanying relatives) of children admitted for acute diarrhea (i.e., <2 weeks) in Al-Zahraa maternity and children hospital, Al-Najaf filled for the period March 2019 to October, 2020 information about 100 children was obtained. The accompanying relatives were interviewed about the causes of diarrhea before admission, what antimicrobials were given at home? Prescribed by whom? Finally, what was the diagnosis their child labeled with in the hospital? Results: Acute gastroenteritis was the most frequent 'pre-hospital' diagnosis (26%), followed by "cold" (21 and "teething" (15%). Seventy-eight percent of the 'total' and 88% of those with prehospital diagnosis of 'gastroenteritis' received antimicrobials. Metronidazole (58%) followed by cephalosporins (30%) and co-trimoxazole (29%) were the most frequent agents used. Two or more antimicrobials were prescribed for the 'same' child in 40% of cases. Conclusion: Antimicrobial abuse in acute diarrhea was obvious in this study because more than 75% of the total cases (regardless of the pre-hospital diagnosis) and most of those with the diagnosis of gastroenteritis were given antimicrobials (most commonly metronidazole). Two antimicrobials were given in a high percent of cases (about 40%).

Author(s): Ahmed Abdul Hadi Mohsen1, Mazin Majid Mohammed Ali2, Asmaa Lateef Neama3, Alaa Jumaah Manji Nasrawi4*

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