Observational study on the dispensing of cough syrups to children with acute cough by community pharmacists in France.
Minerva Pediatr
; 70(2): 117-126, 2018 Apr.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-28211646
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Over-the-counter medicines may be proposed by pharmacists for children with acute cough. Study objectives were to describe the sociodemographic profile of children who were proposed a cough syrup by a pharmacist, the nature of the cough and type(s) of cough syrup proposed and to assess the evolution of the cough, tolerance and satisfaction with treatment.METHODS:
Observational, prospective, longitudinal, multicentre study with 157 pharmacies in France. Children who were proposed a cough syrup by a pharmacist were recruited. Questionnaires were completed by the pharmacists and/or parents at inclusion and by the parents after 5 days of treatment.RESULTS:
Four hundred fourteen children were included (mean age 6.0±2.9 years); 45.9% had a dry and 43.3% a productive cough. 30.4% were proposed an allopathic antitussive syrup, 28.3% an allopathic expectorant syrup and 23.7% a homeopathic syrup. Children with a dry cough were more likely to be given an allopathic antitussive (55.2%) or homeopathic (28.2%) syrup. Children with a productive cough or cough of several days duration were more likely to be given an allopathic expectorant syrup (70.1%). Cough disappearance was more frequent with homeopathic syrups compared to allopathic expectorants (P=0.002), or allopathic antitussives (P=0.042). Adverse events were most common with allopathic antitussive syrups (18.7%) (P<0.001). Two-thirds of parents were satisfied with the treatment their child received.CONCLUSIONS:
Pharmacists play an important role in the management of acute cough in children. Homeopathic cough syrups may have an interest in terms of public health.
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Antitussígenos
/
Tosse
/
Medicamentos sem Prescrição
/
Expectorantes
Tipo de estudo:
Clinical_trials
/
Observational_studies
Limite:
Child
/
Child, preschool
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
País como assunto:
Europa
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2018
Tipo de documento:
Article