STUDY OF THE MEDICATION GIVEN TO CHILDREN PREVIOUSLY THE VISIT TO A PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT

Introduction: The errors in dosage and therapeutic indication in some pediatric drugs are common. Objective: Characterize the population of children and caregivers who uses a Pediatric Emergency Department (SUP) and the medication administered previously. Methods: Descriptive study with analytical, observational componente. Convenience sample of caregivers / children who use the SUP in a hospital, between 10 November and 31 December 2014. Bivariate analysis with Chi-square and T-student, to a 0.05 significance level. Results: 100 valid questionnaires, filled mostly by mothers who accompanied the children to the SUP (79%), followed by fathers (19%) and grandparents (2%). Most caregivers were unskilled workers. The average age of mothers was 35.8 years and children 5.9 years. The most frequent reasons for going to the SUP were fever (n = 66), cough (n = 49) and sore throat (n = 22). Paracetamol was the most frequently administered drug (n = 75) before resorting to the SUP, 64% in the form of syrup, followed ibuprofen (n = 37). The dose was wrong in 64% of cases of paracetamol, of which 65% in overdoses, ibuprofen 22% in infradose and 51% overdose. When administered together, both dosage error occurred in 68%. Mostly the previous provisions were made by physicians. The bivariate analysis between the dose error of the drugs and the type and features of the caregiver type specifier was not statistically significant. Conclusions: Health care providers should take time to explain the regimen of drugs to its users and how to behave in case of illness.