Evaluación de la dosificación en la terapia farmacológica administrada a pacientes menores de 5 años con diagnóstico COVID-19 en el Hospital Pediátrico Alfonso Villagómez

Abstract

The present research study was conducted at the Hospital Pediátrico Alfonso Villagómez in the city of Riobamba. The purpose of evaluating the dosage in drug therapy administered to patients under 5 years of age diagnosed with COVID-19 during the period October 2021-March 2022. For this purpose, a retrospective study was conducted based on 14 medical records that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria, in which general data and anthropometric measurements, signs, and symptoms, allergies, pathology data, general data of the prescribed drugs (way of administration, dose, frequency) were identified. Also, pharmacovigilance reports in the pharmacy service were reviewed. Also, an interview with open-ended questions was conducted with the treating physician. As a result of the study, the most frequent comorbidities were unspecified pneumonia (50%) and acute obstructive laryngitis (21.4%), followed by unspecified urinary tract infection, cerebral palsy (14.3%); epilepsy and microcephaly in lower frequency (7.14%). Only 7.14% of pediatric patients did not present any comorbidity, being their only diagnosis of COVID-19. The possible pharmacological treatment for COVID-19 consisted of antiviral drugs, bronchodilators, electrolytes with carbohydrates, corticoids, vitamins, analgesics, and antipyretics. No reports of RAMs were found in the pharmacy service, but the Medscape application identified possible low-risk drug interactions related to the use of two corticosteroids, between an antipyretic and anticonvulsants or with an antiepileptic and even with an anxiolytic, in all cases causing antagonistic effects. Additionally, it was identified that there is a correlation between the dosages of the possible treatment for COVID-19 prescribed by the treating physician focused on weight with the dosages proposed in the pediatrics protocol and the pediadosis text focused on age and weight since their values are positive and close to 1.