Pediatric population by itself is a spectrum of different physiologies with significant variation in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Unfortunately, 50–90% of drugs used in children today have never been actually studied in this population and the results of drug studies done in adults are often extrapolated for use in children. Detailed care and attention is needed when making prescribing decisions for children, taking into account their developmental stage. Thus, greater focus on improvement of safety of drugs used in children is necessary. Staff should receive regular training in the causes and prevention of medication errors and knowledge of pediatric drug therapy. Regular inspection of prescriptions also significantly improves their quality.
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