Children up to 4 years worst target of antibiotics prescribed by private doctors

• A study shows that from May 2013 to April 2014 antibiotic prescription rates were highest for children aged 0–4 years.
• Around 519 million antibiotic prescriptions were dispensed in 2014, which translate into 412 prescriptions per 1,000 persons per year

Children between 0 to 4 years have been found to be the most targeted segment among patients for antibiotics prescribed by private doctors, a study has shown.
 
The study done by Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), a public private initiative in public health has revealed that from May 2013 to April 2014 antibiotic prescription rates were highest for children aged 0–4 years. Also, approximately one-fifth antibiotic prescriptions were dispensed for upper respiratory infections, which rarely require an antibiotic therapy, the study said.

The researchers used a 12-month period (May 2013 to April 2014) medical audit dataset from IQVIA (formerly IMS Health) an American Contract Research Organization and Pharmaceutical Service Consulting. The researchers also calculated and reported antibiotic prescription rate per 1,000 persons per year, by age groups, antibiotic class and disease conditions.

Presenting new evidence on outpatient antibiotic prescription rates and pattern in the private sector in India, the study said that around 519 million antibiotic prescriptions were dispensed in 2014, which translate into 412 prescriptions per 1,000 persons per year. The antibiotic prescription rates were found to be highest for children aged 0–4 years (636 prescriptions per 1,000 persons) and lowest in the age group 10–19 years (280 prescriptions per 1,000 persons).

“Our estimates suggest high proportion of antibiotic prescription for upper respiratory tract infections (acute upper respiratory infections (20.4%), cough (4.7%), acute nasopharyngitis (4.6%), and acute pharyngitis (3.9%)). Generally, these infections are viral in origin and are self-limiting in nature," said Sakthivel Selvaraj, director, Health Economics, Financing and Policy, PHFI.

The findings also stated that the prescriptions for unspecified acute lower respiratory infection were 12.8%; disorders of urinary system were 6.0%; 4.7% for cough; and 4.6% for acute nasopharyngitis.
“In the light of evidence based medicine and standard treatment guidelines, it may be argued that a significant proportion of these antibiotic prescriptions might be inappropriate in nature. Previous research on prescription practices also highlighted the problem of inappropriate use of broad-spectrum antibiotics in India," Selvaraj said.

The findings highlighted that across all age groups, beta-lactam, cephalosporins had the highest prescription rates (38.3% of all antibiotic prescriptions) followed by beta-lactam, penicillins (22.8%) and quinolones (16.3%). “Cephalosporins were the most commonly prescribed antibiotic across all diagnoses with the exception of disorders of urinary system where quinolones were more commonly prescribed," said Selvaraj.

The researchers have argued that overall antibiotic prescription rates in India are still much lower than Europe. However, prescription rates for broad-spectrum beta-lactam antibiotics are much higher as compared to European nations, especially in children.

“Our findings highlight that primary care physicians in the private sector can play a key role in reducing antibiotic misuse and overuse. This baseline information can also be used as a benchmark for measuring the impact of current and future interventions directed towards reducing inappropriate antibiotic use," said Selvaraj.

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5 Signs You May Have a UTI — and What To Do About It

If you have female anatomy, it's not unlikely you’ve had a urinary tract infection (UTI) at some point. According to the statistics some 40 to 60 percent of women will develop a UTI in their lifetime — and UTIs usually don't only strike once. “In adult women, UTIs are quite common, with women having about one infection every two years,” a physician says. An OB/GYN and maternal fetal medicine expert says UTIs “represent an infection caused by bacteria growing within the urinary system." And it’s the makeup of the female anatomy that makes us so prone to contracting that infection: “Women have shorter urethra than men, which allow bacteria a shorter and easier pathway to the bladder,” the Dr. explains.

One of the most common risk factors is sex — “Usually bladder infections arise from fecal contamination of the urethra, which occurs commonly when having sex,” Dr. says — but UTIs can be caused in other ways, too. Dr. notes that anything put inside the vagina — including certain birth control methods — can be the culprit. “Anything requiring placement of objects within the vagina (causing contact with the urethra in the process) will facilitate a UTI,” she says. ”Therefore diaphragms, rings, [and] spermicidal jellies all have an increased risk of causing an inadvertent UTI.”

Aside from that, Dr. says other causes can be pregnancy (pregnant women’s urinary systems don’t empty as fast as they do in the “non-pregnant state,” allowing bacteria to build up); hormonal changes during menopause; recent trauma, surgery, or catheter use; diseases that affect the immune system, such as diabetes; diseases, like multiple sclerosis, that affect the musculature or nerves in the urogenital system; and kidney stones.

Luckily, there are steps you can take to avoid contracting a UTI. “It is always important that women urinate immediately after having sex, in order to clear the urethra of any bacteria that may have been introduced,” Dr.  says. And don’t hold your urine the rest of the day, either — make sure you void frequently, particularly if you’re pregnant. When you wipe, make sure to do so from front to back: “Wiping back to front inoculates bacteria from the rectal area onto the urethra, [potentially] causing a UTI,” Dr. advises. Outside of the bathroom, Dr. says to make sure you stay plenty hydrated (water can flush out the bacteria on its way out of the body via urination), wear cotton underwear (it allows the area to breathe and stay dry), and wash your genital area and hands thoroughly before inserting anything into the vagina.

Despite all of these preventative measures, though, there’s a decent chance you will still contract a UTI at some point — so it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with some of the most common signs and symptoms. If you experience any of the following, it could mean you have an infection.

1. Painful and Frequent Urination

If you’re going to the bathroom a lot, and only urinating a little when you do, it could very well be a sign of a UTI. “Ninety percent of the time when a healthy adult woman experiences painful urination and feelings of frequent urination, it is a UTI (assuming [she isn’t] experiencing any vaginal discharge),” Dr. says. The Dr. also notes that, if you have a UTI, incontinence may occasionally occur as well.

2. Cloudy, Dark, or Bloody Urine

Take note of the appearance of your urine after you go to the bathroom: Its look could be an indicator that you need to head to the doctor. “Many women who have bladder infections may notice that their urine looks cloudy or dark,” Dr. says. “Some may even see blood in their urine.”

3. Strong-Smelling Urine

Sure, you might consider all urine to be “strong-smelling,” but if the odor of yours is even stronger than normal (or perhaps different, or foul), that may also be a sign of a UTI, Dr. says.

4. Fever, Nausea, Chills, and Fatigue

Though they’re not as common as the others, Dr. notes that symptoms can include feeling tired or shaky, nauseous, or feverish, as well as experiencing the chills.

5. Back Pain

UTIs can spread, and when they do, you may experience pain in your back. “With a UTI that has ascended into the kidneys, there may be back pain [that’s] particularly sensitive when one taps on the back where the kidneys are located,” author says.

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If you experience any of the above symptoms and think you might have a UTI, the Dr. notes that most pharmacies do sell over-the-counter urine tests to help you determine if that is, indeed, the case. But it’s also a good idea to just consult your doctor, particularly if your symptoms are serious. “If you have a high fever (more than 100.3 F), back or flank pain, or nausea and vomiting, it may indicate something more serious and you should seek urgent medical attention,” he says.

And whether your symptoms are that intense or not, your doctor can diagnose you based on a urine test or your symptoms alone before helping you determine a course of treatment. “Fortunately, most cases of UTIs can be cured with a short course of antibiotic therapy,” the Dr. says. If you ignore your symptoms and the UTI goes unchecked, though, Dr.  says it could lead to serious health consequences, including permanent kidney or bladder damage, preterm labor (if you’re pregnant), and a “very bad complication known as urosepsis, meaning a bacterial infection origination in the urinary system has gone all through the body, [which] can be life-threatening.” The bottom line: Don’t wait until you’re really sick or have a laundry list of painful symptoms before calling your doctor about a suspected UTI.  

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The ill-effects of antibiotics

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.








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We're leading such a fast-paced lifestyle that often, to keep up with our schedules, we may pop antibiotics whenever we fall sick. While they may give your temporary relief, in the long run, they can cause irreversible damage to your body. Here are a few:

They increase the risk of obesity. According to studies, industrial raised animals are given low doses of antibiotics to make them fatter, which could also occur in humans.

Can cause type I diabetes. Since antibiotics kill the beneficial bacteria in the intestines, they play havoc with your immune system. If you consume a large dose of them since an early age, it can cause your immune system to attack the pancreas, thus affecting your insulin-making process, causing diabetes.

They can destroy bacteria like H. pylori. Though a bad bacteria, it is the reason which protects people from asthma. Killing it can lead to asthma.

Resistant to infections. The biggest disadvantage of taking antibiotics on a regular basis is that it increases the risk of antibiotic resistant infections.