Abstract

LUNA-VILCHEZ, Medalit et al. Medication use in pediatric patients with covid-19 hospitalized in a referral hospital in Lima, Peru, 2020 - 2022. Rev. perú. med. exp. salud publica [online]. 2023, vol.40, n.1, pp.73-78.  Epub Mar 31, 2023. ISSN 1726-4634.  http://dx.doi.org/10.17843/rpmesp.2023.401.12326.

This study aimed to describe the use of medication in pediatric patients with COVID-19 hospitalized at the National Children’s Health Institute - San Borja (INSN-SB) in Lima, Peru, between March 2020 and March 2022. Therefore, we conducted a descriptive, observational study to evaluate the use of six medications: corticosteroids, ceftriaxone, azithromycin, immunoglobulin, hydroxychloroquine, and ivermectin. We compared the results among subpopulations defined according to the COVID-19 pandemic waves. We included 421 pediatric patients. Corticosteroids were prescribed to 40.4%, ceftriaxone to 35.6%, azithromycin to 12.1%, immunoglobulin to 3.6%, hydroxychloroquine to 2.4%, and ivermectin to 0.5% of the patients. The use of ceftriaxone and azithromycin was less frequent during the third wave. Hydroxychloroquine was used almost exclusively during the first wave. Only patients with pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome used immunoglobulin. Overall, the prescription of the evaluated medications decreased during the third wave.

Keywords : COVID-19; children; drugs; Peru.

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