Morbilidad y manejo de infecciones respiratorias agudas en menores de 5 a？os

a prospective descriptive study of the situation of acute respiratory infections in under five-years-old children and the use of medicines to treat them was carried out in the year 2001. these children were cared for by the doctor′s offices belonging to the basic work team (bwt) no.1 of "mario escalona reguera" teaching polyclinics. the sample was taken from all the cases diagnosed with acute respiratory diseases and the variables from the individual medical histories; the results were that the acute respiratory infection episodes were most frequent in under one-year olds; the highest incidence was recorded from october to march, upper respiratory infections were the most reported, particularly common cold and rhinopharyngitis whereas different pneumonia were the most frequent lower respiratory infections. infants were the ones mostly admitted to home care as the best follow-up and control method, and to the hospital. a high percentage of symptomatic drugs mainly nasal drops and expectorants was used whereas the administration of antibiotics was excessive in 62,4 % of cases. only 12,7 % of prescribed antibiotics was correct.