An examination of the prescribed therapeutic experience of five-year-olds in general practice.

The number and therapeutic grouping of prescriptions given to children before reaching their fifth birthday were examined. The records of 92 children were looked at. Between them they had received 1,241 individual prescriptions of which 33 per cent were for antibiotics, and 31 per cent for an antihistamine or cough linctus. Ninety-six per cent of the children had received at least one course of antibiotics and the average child 4.5 courses (SD +/- 3.9); 89 per cent had received an antihistamine or cough linctus, and 50 per cent a skin preparation.