Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research (PSR)
Vol. 13, No. 2

Implementation of a Modified Trigger Tool for Adverse Drug Reaction Detection in Pediatric with COVID-19 in Indonesia

Maria, Nisa (Unknown)
Khaerani, Avini Risda (Unknown)
Hamdani, Indri Yuliani (Unknown)
Larasati, Annisa Lazuardi (Unknown)
Kusumawardani, Larasati Arrum (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
21 Oct 2026

Abstract

Pediatric patients are vulnerable to adverse drug reactions (ADRs), necessitating prompt monitoring of treatment-related adverse events (AEs). This study analyzed ADRs in pediatric COVID-19 patients using a modified trigger tool to identify AEs, followed by causality analysis with the Naranjo Algorithm, and evaluated the tool’s performance. A cross-sectional, single-center retrospective study was conducted at a hospital in Indonesia from August 2020 to July 2021, using total sampling of pediatric patients aged one to≥24 hours with COVID-19. AEs were identified using 23 triggers (15 laboratory result, eight drug-administration). A total of 242 positive triggers were detected among 120 patients (mean two triggers/patient, range one to four), corresponding to 527 suspected drug–event associations assessed for causality. The Naranjo Algorithm classified 357 (67.7%) associations as possible, 32 (6.1%) as probable, and 138 (26.2%) as doubtful. Accordingly, 389 ADR events were identified from the possible and probable categories. The most common ADRs from drug-administration triggers were peptic ulcers (84.2%), hypersensitivity (29.2%), and nausea (27.5%); from laboratory result triggers, increased aspartate aminotransferase (5.8%) and alanine transaminase (1.7%) were most frequent. These ADRs were most frequently associated with ceftriaxone (48.6%) and azithromycin (26.0%). Of the 12 trigger types detected, 11 identified at least one ADR, with PPVs ranging from 44.4% to 100%. The modified trigger tool showed potential utility in detecting ADRs in pediatric patients; prospective studies in routine practice are needed to strengthen pharmacovigilance.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

publication:psr

Publisher

Subject

Description

Aims Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research (PSR), an international, peer-reviewed, open access, and official journal from Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Indonesia, aims to disseminate research results and findings in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Practices. Major area of interest is natural products ...