Table 2.

Examples of medication prescribing errors in the pediatric ward of Dessie referral hospital, February 17 - March 17, 2012

Type of prescribing error	Examples
Wrong dose	A 3 year old patient ,weight 10 kg, was prescribed ceftriaxone 250 mg IV BID instead of the correct dose of 500 mg IV BID in the treatment of meningitis
Wrong route	Diclofenac sodium 75 mg was prescribed to be given through IV instead the correct route IM route
Incomplete prescriptions	Paracetamol suppositories: missing essential information about dose, frequency and route of administration
Inappropriate indication	Both Dexamethasone 8 mg IV stat and dexamethasone 8 mg IV QID for 3 days were prescribed for the treatment of severe croup, while dexamethasone 8 mg QID for 3 days was unnecessary
Wrong dosage form	Amoxicillin syrup 125 mg/5 ml was prescribed instead of the correct dosage form which is suspension
Wrong frequency	Ampicillin 30 mg intravenous was prescribed four times a day instead of the correct frequency of twice a day for a one day old baby