Date:16/05/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/05/16/stories/2005051615550400.htm

Karnataka

Audit on paediatricians' prescriptions suggested

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: An audit to discuss prescriptions given by paediatricians in a common forum without referring to names, would go a long way in finding out whether antibiotics are being rationally used in the treatment of children, Pramod Jog, consultant paediatrician, said here on Sunday.

Presenting a paper on "Rational Antibiotic Policy" at the concluding day of the National Continuing Medical Education programme on infectious diseases, Dr. Jog said many paediatricians continue to irrationally prescribe antibiotics even when the infection or condition may not warrant it. He said it was important for a good doctor to first investigate, including blood culture test, to find out the nature of infection, when a child is down with fever or cough. After that the physician should use his discretion on whether to prescribe an antibiotic or not.

Nearly 300 delegates from across the country and abroad, including United Nations Children's Fund and World Health Organisation, participated in the two-day programme organised by the Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health in association with National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences. The programme deliberated on infectious diseases such as pneumonia, diarrhoea, malaria, measles, diphtheria and tuberculosis that cause morbidity and mortality among children. HIV/AIDS in children was also discussed.