Classes of medications prescribed to malnourished children and their relationship with time to recovery

Abstract

AbstractObjectiveThere is conflicting evidence around prescription practices in the management of malnutrition; the study objective was to explore medication classifications prescribed and their relationship between time‐to‐recovery and specific demographic characteristics among children with malnutrition in Guatemala.DesignDescriptive correlational study of data obtained in a retrospective record review.SampleChildren aged 0–5 years with malnutrition treated in a Guatemalan Nutrition Rehabilitation Center between 2019 and 2020 (N = 155).MeasuresVariables assessed were medication classification of prescribed medications, age, gender, time‐to‐recovery, malnutrition severity, and COVID cohort.ResultsThe most frequently used medication classifications were vitamins (95%), respiratory (75%), antipyretic (68%), antibiotic (61%), and gastrointestinal agents (54%). Antibiotic, respiratory, corticosteroid, antipyretic, and gastrointestinal agents were prescribed significantly more in cases with a time‐to‐recovery of 6 weeks or greater.ConclusionsMedication classifications prescribed most often were related to common comorbidities of malnutrition and illnesses affecting children in Guatemala, such as respiratory and diarrheal diseases. The medication used in cases with a time‐to‐recovery of ≥6 weeks suggest these cases may have had more comorbidities, which could explain the longer recovery times. Caution is suggested in routine prophylactic antibiotic use in public health settings, given the lack of association with improved recovery times, the potential for antibiotic drug resistance, and the negative effects on renal function among children.