Muhammad Shahid Iqbal, Anjum Rashid, Muhammad Akram.
Knowledge regarding the management of Acute Respiratory Infections in Children below 5 years of age by General Practitioners, Lahore.
Pak Paed J Jan ;26(3):107-11.

Objective: To assess the knowledge of general physicians (GPs) regarding ARI management in accordance to the WHO protocol. Design:- it was a descriptive, cross sectional epidemiological study. Place of study:- The study was conducted among GPs practicing in zone No.5 of Metropolitan Corporation, Lahore. Material and methods:- A total 80 of GPs were selected by simple random sampling technique from the list of GPs provided by the pharmaceutical companies. Results:- Only 27(33.8%) had experience of working in specialized paediatric unit. 65 (GPs) (81.2%) had not attended any workshop regarding the management of ARI. Main symptoms asked by GPs were cough 995%), fever (97.5%) and difficult breathing (48.8%). Only 33 GPs (41.2%) counted respiratory rate. Similarly 11 (13.8%) examined throat of the patient. Only 4(5%) did examination of ear and 20(25%) examined throat for enlarged tonsils. Not a single doctor could classify the ARI according to WHO protocol. In simple cough and cold only 55 (68.8%) gave treatment according to WHO protocol. For Pneumonia and otitis media only 45 (56.3%) and 36(45%) prescribed medicine correctly. 79(98.8%) referred the cases to a secondary or tertiary health center in case of complications. Only 19 GPs (23.8%) had read national guidelines about the management of ARI.

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