Author/Authors :
Tabatabaei, Ahmad Department of Pediatrics - Mofid Children Hospital - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences , Fahimzad, Alireza Department of Pediatrics - Pediatric Infections Research Center - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences , Shamshiri, Ahmad Reza Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics - School of Health and Institute of Health Research - Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Shiva, Farideh Department of Pediatrics - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences , Salehpor, Shadab Department of Pediatrics - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences , Sayyahfar, Shirin Department of Pediatrics - Shool of Medicine - Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Khanbabaei, Ghamartag Department of Pediatrics - Mofid Children Hospital - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences , Armin, Shahnaz Department of Pediatrics - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences , Rafii Tabatabaei, Sedigheh Department of Pediatrics - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences , Khatami, Alireza Department of Radiology - Shool of Medicine - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences , Kadivar, Maryam Department of Pathology - School of Medicine - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran,
Abstract :
Objectives: To assess the practicability of a new algorithm in decreasing the rate of incorrect diagnoses and inappropriate antibiotic
usage in pediatric Acute Respiratory Tract Infection (ARTI). Materials and Methods: Children between 1 month to15 years brought
to outpatient clinics of a children’s hospital with acute respiratory symptoms were managed according to the steps recommended in
the algorithm. Results: Upper Respiratory Tract Infection, Lower Respiratory Tract Infection, and undifferentiated ARTI accounted
for 82%, 14.5%, and 3.5% of 1 209 cases, respectively. Antibiotics were prescribed in 33%; for: Common cold, 4.1%; Sinusitis, 85.7%;
Otitis media, 96.9%; Pharyngotonsillitis, 63.3%; Croup, 6.5%; Bronchitis, 15.6%; Pertussis-like syndrome, 82.1%; Bronchiolitis, 4.1%;
and Pneumonia, 50%. Conclusion: Implementation of the ARTIs algorithm is practicable and can help to reduce diagnostic errors
and rate of antibiotic prescription in children with ARTIs.
