Non-prescription treatments for childhood infections: an Austrian, monocentric, cross-sectional questionnaire study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Infectious diseases like the common cold, otitis media, or gastroenteritis frequently occur in childhood. In addition to prescription drugs, parents often use supplementary over-the-counter (OTC) products recommended by pharmacists and other non-medical professionals to relieve their children's symptoms. However, the efficacy of such alternative treatments lacks conclusive evidence. The objective of this study was to investigate the use of OTC products and related active ingredients in children, and the motivations behind this choice.

Methods

The present study included 215 children aged between 1 and 14 years with an acute respiratory tract infection, e.g., common cold, bronchitis, otitis media, tonsillitis, or gastroenteritis. During their visit to the pediatric

SUBMITTER: Gerlitz M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8943939 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature