Use of cold and cough medications prescribed in Primary Care clinics for children less than 14 years

• Published in: Anales de pediatría (Barcelona, Spain : 2003) Vol. 84; no. 1; pp. 10 - 17
• Main Authors: Suárez-Castañón, C, Modroño-Riaño, G, López-Vilar, P, Martínez-Blanco, J, Iglesias-Cabo, T, Solís-Sánchez, G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Spain 01-01-2016
• Subjects: Antitussive Agents - therapeutic use; Child; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Drug Utilization - statistics & numerical data; Expectorants - therapeutic use; Humans; Inappropriate Prescribing - statistics & numerical data; Off-Label Use - statistics & numerical data; Primary Health Care; Respiratory Tract Diseases - drug therapy; Retrospective Studies; Spain; Respiratory tract infections; Infecciones respiratorias; Atención Primaria; Niños; Systemic cold and cough medicines; Anticatarrales; Children; Primary Care
• ISSN: 1695-9531
• DOI: 10.1016/j.anpedi.2015.02.022

To evaluate cold and cough medications and their suitability in children in Primary Health Care in Area V of the Asturian Health Service.
A cross-sectional, descriptive and retrospective study was conducted in which an analysis was performed of the respiratory diseases and the prescriptions of 6 Primary Health Care paediatricians who worked in Area V of the Asturian Health Service in 2011. An evaluation was made on the suitability of these medications. An analysis was also made of the drug datasheet and clinical recommendations (clinical guidelines, protocols or reports).
A total of 424 cold and cough drugs: 249 antitussives, 155 mucolytics, and 20 "others" were analyzed. The mean age was 5 years old. There was a total of 85.1% unsuitable prescriptions. Off-label drugs were used in 11.6%. The prescribing was considered unsuitable in 82.8% of prescriptions associated with R74, and 73% of R05. All of the prescription drugs in children under 6 years old were unsuitable. Mucolytics/"others" were not suitable in 99.4%, nor antitussives in 75.1%.
There is a high level of cold and cough drugs being prescribed in children, with 85% of these being unsuitable. Children should only receive drugs with a good risk and benefit ratio. Pediatricians should try to improve the information about pediatric drug use and spread this information to parents, doctors and nurses.