Review on pediatric seizures - a prospective study on drug utilization pattern and its outcome

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to evaluate the drug utilization pattern and to observe possible treatment outcomes.
 METHODS: A Non-experimental prospective observational study has been carried out in tertiary care hospital for a period of six months. A total number of 181 pediatric inpatients of age 1- 14 years with seizures were included and evaluated. The patient’s case history was collected based on a data collection form designed for the study.
 RESULTS: In our study, we observed that female patients are more prevalent. Prevalence of seizures is high among the age group 1-5years and low among 11-14 years. Tonic-clonic (51.3%) types of seizures were commonly observed, followed by febrile seizures (19%). Phenytoin is the most prescribed drug followed by sodium valproate. Monotherapy is observed mostly. The outcome of the therapy is measured by seizure-free period, among which seizure-free observed are more than 74.1%. The incidence of ADRs in the study group is less (6.6%) and phenytoin is the drug with more number of ADRs. Medication adherence is measured in known epileptic patients (n=67) using MMAS, medium adherence seems to be more (49%).
 CONCLUSION: This study strongly highlights that the Clinical pharmacist has a pivotal role in conducting drug utilization studies that help in comparing the ongoing regimen with the standard treatment guidelines so as to promote the stupendously rational use of drugs and to minimize or control the incidence of ADRs.