RISK AND COST ANALYSIS OF INJECTABLE MEDICATIONS IN PEDIATRICS

*Saleha Sadeeqa, Marriyum Khan and Mehwish Sikandar

ABSTRACT

Objectives Pediatrics is the specialty of medical science concerned with the physical, mental and social health of children from birth to young adulthood. ―Injectable medication‖ means any medication administered by the intravenous, intramuscular or subcutaneous route. The aim of the study is to observe the risks of medications in pediatrics, health care staff vigilance and provision of child-centered care to pediatric patients in the different hospitals of Lahore. Methods A structured questionnaire was designed to collect data from 100 pediatric patients. The study also covers the limitations and risks associated with the administration of injectable medications, use of non-disposable devices, dose miscalculations and medication errors which occur due to inappropriate administration and wrong prescription orders. Results showed that in majority of subjects, risks during administration of injectable medication through intravenous route is local edema, erythema and bleeding from the site of injection. Pediatrics are more prone to the adverse drug reactions associated with dose miscalculations because intravenous route is the more direct route to distribute drug in systemic circulation. Conclusion It is concluded that the intravenous route is the most common and preferrable route for therapy of illnes, nutitional and electrolyte imbalance in pediatrics. Dose calculation and medication errors should be avoided which require proper vigilance by the pharmacist, physicians and other health care staff.

Keywords: Injectable medication, Intravenous, Intramuscular, Subcutaneous, Pediatrics.