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The management of infections in children in general practice in Sweden: A repeated 1-week diagnosis-prescribing study in 5 counties in 2000 and 2002

Andre, M ; Eriksson, M ; Mölstad, Sigvard LU and Stålsby Lundborg, C (2005) In Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases 37(11-12). p.863-869
Abstract
A diagnosis-prescribing study was performed in 5 Swedish counties during 1 week in November in 2000 and repeated in 2002. The aim of the present study was to analyse data for children 0-15 y of age who consulted a general practitioner with symptoms of an infection. During the 2 weeks studied, 4049 children were consulted. Respiratory tract infections (RTI) were the predominant diagnoses, above all among the youngest children, while the proportion of urinary tract infections and skin infections increased with increasing age. Between the y 2000 and 2002, the proportion of children allocated the diagnosis streptococcal tonsillitis and pneumonia decreased (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively) while the proportion of common cold... (More)
A diagnosis-prescribing study was performed in 5 Swedish counties during 1 week in November in 2000 and repeated in 2002. The aim of the present study was to analyse data for children 0-15 y of age who consulted a general practitioner with symptoms of an infection. During the 2 weeks studied, 4049 children were consulted. Respiratory tract infections (RTI) were the predominant diagnoses, above all among the youngest children, while the proportion of urinary tract infections and skin infections increased with increasing age. Between the y 2000 and 2002, the proportion of children allocated the diagnosis streptococcal tonsillitis and pneumonia decreased (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively) while the proportion of common cold increased (p < 0.001). Antibiotic prescribing decreased from 55% to 48% (p < 0.001) for respiratory infections between the years studied. The only significant changes in type of antibiotics prescribed were the increase of isoxazolylpenicillins (p < 0.001) used for skin infection and the decrease of macrolides (p = 0.001). A diagnostic test was used in more than half of the consultations. Of children allocated a RTI diagnosis, 36% were prescribed antibiotics when a C-reactive protein test was performed compared to 58% in those not tested. Further studies are needed in general practice to determine the optimal use of near-patient tests in children with RTI. (Less)
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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases
volume
37
issue
11-12
pages
863 - 869
publisher
Informa Healthcare
external identifiers
  • wos:000233618800011
  • scopus:30544454443
ISSN
1651-1980
DOI
10.1080/00365540500335207
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
76670bbe-03c0-40eb-8284-6071b80ff6ba (old id 211319)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 16:10:29
date last changed
2022-01-28 17:50:01
@article{76670bbe-03c0-40eb-8284-6071b80ff6ba,
  abstract     = {{A diagnosis-prescribing study was performed in 5 Swedish counties during 1 week in November in 2000 and repeated in 2002. The aim of the present study was to analyse data for children 0-15 y of age who consulted a general practitioner with symptoms of an infection. During the 2 weeks studied, 4049 children were consulted. Respiratory tract infections (RTI) were the predominant diagnoses, above all among the youngest children, while the proportion of urinary tract infections and skin infections increased with increasing age. Between the y 2000 and 2002, the proportion of children allocated the diagnosis streptococcal tonsillitis and pneumonia decreased (p &lt; 0.01 and p &lt; 0.001, respectively) while the proportion of common cold increased (p &lt; 0.001). Antibiotic prescribing decreased from 55% to 48% (p &lt; 0.001) for respiratory infections between the years studied. The only significant changes in type of antibiotics prescribed were the increase of isoxazolylpenicillins (p &lt; 0.001) used for skin infection and the decrease of macrolides (p = 0.001). A diagnostic test was used in more than half of the consultations. Of children allocated a RTI diagnosis, 36% were prescribed antibiotics when a C-reactive protein test was performed compared to 58% in those not tested. Further studies are needed in general practice to determine the optimal use of near-patient tests in children with RTI.}},
  author       = {{Andre, M and Eriksson, M and Mölstad, Sigvard and Stålsby Lundborg, C}},
  issn         = {{1651-1980}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{11-12}},
  pages        = {{863--869}},
  publisher    = {{Informa Healthcare}},
  series       = {{Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases}},
  title        = {{The management of infections in children in general practice in Sweden: A repeated 1-week diagnosis-prescribing study in 5 counties in 2000 and 2002}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00365540500335207}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/00365540500335207}},
  volume       = {{37}},
  year         = {{2005}},
}