Treatment pattern and direct medical costs of pediatric outpatients with actuate respiratory infection at X hospital in Jambi

Introduction: Acute respiratory infection is common among the general public. Such disease and its associated symptoms encourage higher consumption of medicine. Varied medications for ARI patients incur different costs of each patient, which eventually lead to higher healthcare costs. Objectives: To identify the treatment patterns and direct medical costs among ARI pediatric patients at X Hospital in Jambi. Methods: This research was an observational study with retrospective data collection. The samples were collected in 2018. Results: The results showed that the most-frequently administered antibiotic for ARI pediatric patients was cefixime (29.17%), while the most-commonly used supportive therapy for ARI pediatric patients was the combination of antihistamines, antipyretics-analgesics, decongestant, and corticosteroid (16.67%). The total direct medical cost to ARI pediatric patients was IDR 191,097. Conclusion: The mean direct medical cost for ARI therapy was IDR 191,097. More administered therapy resulted in higher medical costs. Keywords: ARI, child, antibiotics, direct medical costs