No abstract

Background: Paediatric prescription is a major concern in terms of public health since infections are the most frequent cause of childhood disease. The aim of this hospital-based observational prospective study was to assess the pattern of drug use in the paediatric outpatient department attached to government medical college, Amritsar.   Methods: A prospective study of six months duration was carried out for the month of October 2020 to March 2021. A total number of 201 patients case sheets were utilized for our study from paediatric out-patients department of GNDH, Amritsar. The data collected was then analysed for various prescribing indicators as laid down by world health organisation (WHO) for analysis of drug use parameters. Results:  The average number of drugs per encounter was 2.52. In present study antibiotic were 18% of total drugs prescribed. Antihistaminics prescribed were 25%. Syrup was the most prescribed dosage form.  %age of drugs prescribed from essential drugs list was 60.3%.  Polypharmacy was evident from the study. Conclusions: Drug prescribing in children is relatively high in GNDH, Amritsar. This study revealed deviation in prescribing pattern from WHO core prescribing indicators. Possible reasons are heavy patient load, lack of essential drug list, insufficient government supply of generic drugs and lack of regular prescription audits. Keywords: prescription pattern, observational study, Paediatric, WHO core prescribing indicators.

Background: Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to psychotropic drugs are common. There are very few reports of ADR prole of psychotropic drugs. Pharmacovigilance of psychotropic drugs is essential to improve patient care and create awareness among physicians. Objective: To study the pattern of ADRs among patients in the OPD of Psychiatry of Tertiary Care Hospital. Materials and Methods: This prospective study was conducted at a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital and all the patients who developed ADR to atypical antipyschotics and antidepressant drugs formed the study population. Details were documented from OPD prescription slips and lled in ADR reporting form and Causality assessment was done based on WHO Causality scale. Data were subjected to descriptive analysis. Results: During the study period, 100 patients developed a total of 180 ADRs. Based on causality assessment in these cases as per WHO Causality scale, most were judged as probable, followed by possible and then certain. The most common ADRs observed were extrapyramidal symptoms. Antipsychotics are the most common group of drugs found responsible for most of the ADRs; olanzapine being the individual drug which caused the maximum number of ADRs. Conclusion: Active surveillance from the part of clinicians and pharmacologists will help build a database for ADRs in Indian setting.

Maternal nutrition has a huge impact on the health of the mother and the fetus. Pregnancy imposes the need for considerable extra calorie and nutrient requirements. A food taboo is a prohibition against consuming certain  foods are embedded into the cultural and religious threads. The restrictions imposed on people forces them to abstain from certain food and drinking items as these things. Food taboos in this community are deep rooted. Avoidance of nutritive food was common in both the  religion. Many misconceptions are prevalent which do not have scientific basis. Maternal nutrition needs to be prioritized at community level among family members and front line workers. Anganwadi workers need to be  sensitized   regarding different beliefs about food consumption during pregnancy and lactation. Keywords: Pregnancy, dietary deficiency