Journal Article

Acute cough in Italian children: parents’ beliefs, approach to treatment, and the family impact

Dal Negro, Roberto W., Povero, Massimiliano, Turco, Paola, Zanasi, Alessandro

2019

Overview

Background Acute cough is the most common symptom among children in primary care, but the impact of cough episodes was never investigated in Italian families. Methods A cross-sectional telephone survey was conducted on a representative sample of Italian families, randomly selected from general population; a specific and validated questionnaire was used. Results The sample (604 calls) was uniform by geographical distribution, and by children age and gender. Mean cough episode was 3.1/year, they were short lasting (only 4.7% > 2 weeks). Independent predictors of children cough episodes were parents’ active smoking habit and work ( p  < 0.05). The mean nursery/school absenteeism was mostly < 7 days, but of a 7–15-day duration in near 30% of cases. The pediatrician was contacted immediately only by 25% of parents and a second consultation (mostly a lung physician) usually occurred after 2–3 weeks of cough. Meanwhile, home/pharmacist suggested remedies were adopted in 50–70% of cases. Usual prescriptions were mucolytics (85.8%), antitussive agents (55.6%), non-steroideal anti-inflammatory drugs (33.8%), antibiotics (regularly or episodically 80%), and corticosteroids (systemic steroids in less than 50%, but via aerosol in more than 80% of cases). Moreover, pediatricians claimed to use homeopathic drugs regularly or episodically in almost 50%. The respondents’ willingness to spend out-of-pocket for an “effective remedy” against cough was of € 20 (>€ 30 in 18.4% of cases). Conclusions Parents’ actions against cough episodes were variable, depending on their beliefs, smoking habit, and occupational status. The parents’ perceived efficacy of usual prescriptions is poor, and their willingness to pay out-of-pocket for an “effective remedy” against cough is high. The interest for alternative treatments is not negligible in these circumstances.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,PAGEPress Publications,Mattioli 1885
• Subject: Absenteeism (Labor) / Acute cough / Acute cough in children / Age / Antibiotics / Children / Children & youth / Corticosteroid drugs / Cough impact / Critical Care Medicine / Families & family life / Gender / Infections / Influenza / Intensive / Interviews / Manual workers / Medicine / Medicine & Public Health / Original / Original Research Article / Parents & parenting / Parents’ beliefs / Pediatrics / Pneumology/Respiratory System / Prescribing attitude / Prescription writing / Primary care / Public opinion / Questionnaires / Respiratory system agents / Standard deviation / Steroids (Organic compounds) / Surveys / Thoracic Surgery