Introduction:

there are factors that lead pediatricians to prescribe "symptomatic" medications and antibiotics, aimed at reducing symptoms and parental anxiety, a practice that is not harmless, because some can cause harm.

Objective:

To determine the frequency of prescriptions of symptomatic medications and antibiotics in pediatric consultations for children under 5 years of age in two care centers, public and private.

Materials and methods:

An observational, descriptive study with an analytical, prospective, cross-sectional component. Children under 5 years of age who attended consultations at the Pedro Juan Caballero Regional Hospital and the Private Children's Clinic of the same city, in September-October 2017, were included. The data were analyzed in SPSSv21. Main variables: Age, sex, origin, consultation center, reason for consultation, prescribed medications.

Results:

200 patients were included, 51.5% (103) were from the private center and 48.5% (97) from the public. Median age: 16 months, there were no differences in relation to sex. Reasons for the most frequent visits: Upper airway infection in private (32%) and public (26%). The use of symptomatic medications was: private 32.4% (53/179), public 29.6% (53/179), received a single symptomatic medication 29.7% (33/111) and 27.9% (31/111) respectively. The frequency of prescribing antibiotics in the private sector was 2.5% (5/179) and the public 1.7% (3/179). 89.5% (179/200) received some type of medication.

Conclusion:

Just under half used symptomatic medication and one third used antibiotics, with no differences between the public and private centers. Less than a quarter of the patients in both sectors used more than one symptomatic medication.

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