Evaluation of sources and trends in pediatric medication including self medication.

Treatment from non pediatric therapist or quacks and self medication modifies the clinical pattern of disease, delays the correct diagnosis and influences the morbidity and mortality in children. The tendency to treat children by parents by way of self medication (SM) is on the increase(l-4). Availability of the drugs without proper prescription in the developing countries(5,6) has led to further increase of SM. Considering the consequences of improper treatment including SM on management and health of children, the present study was designed to explore and evaluate this problem in the city of Amritsar.