الفهرس 
AcknowledgmentOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Drug utilization studies are the studies of marketing, distribution, prescription and use of drugs in a society with a special emphasis on the resulting medical, social and economic consequences. DUS aim at better and more rational use of drugs. The rational use of drugs require that patients receive medicine appropriate to their clinical needs, in doses that meet their individual requirements, for an adequate period of time and at fuelowest cost to them and to the community. The study was conducted to fulfill the following aims: I. To describe patterns of drug therapeutic practice, regarding ARI and DD for children less than 12 years old. 2. To compare purchase of drugs obtained by prescriptions and over the counter (OTC). ). To estimate the minimum cost of treatment of ARI and DD. 4. To identify appropriate and inappropriate drug use for DD. The study design and sample size followed WHO guidelines for investigation of therapeutic practice. Accordingly, 600 encounters with purchasers of drugs for children less than 12 years, presenting with symptoms of ARI & or DD, were taken from a sample of 15 private pharmacies which were selected at random using the proportional ~Iocation technique. These pharmacies representing the 6 zones of Alexandria. They were visited over a period of one year. Twenty other drug dispensers (pharmacists & pharmacy attendants) were interviewed Study tool: sturctured questionaire Sources of data: 1. Interviews: Two interview fonns were completed: A- One completed with purchasers of drugs. It include data about the sick child such as age, sex, maternal and paternal education and occupation, ’Number of siblings, birth order of index child, space between him and previous one and vaccination history. B. The other one completed with 20 rullg dispensers (phannacists or pharmacy attendants) it included data about number of years on the job. Their opinion about the management of symptoms of ARI in a 2 -yearold child as running nose, cough alone, cough & fever together, cough, fever & difficulty in breathing, In case of diarrhoea! diseases they were asked about their opinion about the management of a 2 - year - old child presenting with DD, in which case would they recommend use of antibiotics and about treatment of an infant with fever. 2. Observation: during dispensmg of drugs: observation oflabelling of drugs, dispensing time and if the drugs actually dispensed or not. 3. Data on prescriptions: like presence of diagnosis on the prescription, name, dose & route of drug administration,’ Classification & grouping of drugs was done with help of the Egyptian mdex of medical specialities. Analysis of data conducted using EPI INFO and lome analysis conducted manually, .J The study reveals the following main results: I. The ratio of ARI: DD reported dignosis was 4.1: 1. II. Acute respiratory infections: I. Antibiotics were the commonest prescribed drugs (about one third of all prescription drugs) . Regarding OTC drugs, antipyretics were the commonest obtained group. 2. More than half of the treatment cost was attributed to antibiotics. J.Penicillins were the commone