Treatment Patterns, Cough Formulations, and Antibiotics Usage for Pediatric Acute Cough in India: A Real-World Study
Abstract
Background: Managing pediatric acute cough poses a unique challenge due to its wide range of causes, from self-limiting viral infections to more serious bacterial conditions. Cough is a common symptom in pediatric practice, often leading to varied prescription practices. This study aimed to evaluate prescription patterns for acute cough in the Indian pediatric population.
Methods: The electronic medical records data of pediatric patients presenting with cough from 2017 to 2023 was studied to understand the treatment patterns, rationality of formulations, and antibiotic prescription for acute cough.
Results: The findings of the study revealed a high rate of antibiotic prescriptions for both productive (61.11%) and nonproductive coughs (54.93%). Combination therapies, particularly those containing antitussives (productive cough 15.81%, nonproductive cough 37.10%), antihistamines (productive cough 3.46%, nonproductive cough 5.49%), and beta-agonists/bronchodilators (productive cough 14.73%, nonproductive cough 5.45%), were widely prescribed. Among the antitussive combinations, chlorpheniramine + dextromethorphan + phenylephrine was widely prescribed for productive as well as nonproductive cough, respectively (9.2%, 20.22%). Azithromycin (nonproductive cough: 19.92% and productive cough: 19.55%) and cefpodoxime were frequently prescribed antibiotics. Dextromethorphan and levocloperastine were the commonly recommended monotherapy. Frequent prescription of antitussive combinations…
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