Self-medication in children and adolescents

Abstract

Objetivo: Determinar a prevalência da automedicação em crianças e adolescentes dos municípios de Limeira e Piracicaba (SP), correlacionando-a a indicadores sociodemográficos e utilização de serviços de saúde (pública ou privada).Métodos: Estudo descritivo tipo inquérito populacional domiciliar de uma amostra aleatória simples de ambos os municípios, constituída de 772 moradores procedentes de 85 setores censitários selecionados por meio de amostragem por conglomerado. Critérios de inclusão: idade ≤ 18 anos; entrevista obrigatória com um dos responsáveis legais; ter consumido pelo menos um medicamento nos 15 dias prévios à data da entrevista. Segundo a orientação de uso de medicamentos, os participantes foram divididos em dois grupos de estudo: automedicação (orientação leiga) e prescrição médica. Foram realizados testes de associação linear, análise descritiva das variáveis e regressão logística múltipla. Resultados:A prevalência da automedicação foi de 56,6%. Os principais responsáveis e indutores da automedicação foram as mães (51%) e funcionários de farmácia (20,1%). Os principais grupos de medicamentos administrados na automedicação foram: analgésicos/antipiréticos e antiinflamatórios não-hormonais (52,9%); medicações de ação nos tratos respiratório (15,4%) e gastrointestinal (9,6%); e antibióticos sistêmicos (8,6%). As situações que mais motivaram a automedicação foram afecções respiratórias (17,2%), febre (15%) e cefaléia (14%). Indivíduos na faixa etária de 7-18 anos (razão de chances = 2,81) e usuários de serviços públicos de saúde (razão de chances = 1,52) apresentaram risco aumentado de automedicação. Conclusões:A prevalência da automedicação em crianças e adolescentes foi alta, reforçando a necessidade de intervenção das autoridades de saúde na prevenção desses agravos. Results:The prevalence of self-medication was 56.6%. Mothers (51%) and drugstore employees (20.1%) were most frequently responsible for self-medication. The main groups of self-prescribed drugs were: analgesic/antipyretic and non-hormonal antiinflammatory drugs (52.9%); drugs acting on the respiratory tract (15.4%) and gastrointestinal drugs (9.6%); and systemic antibiotics (8.6%). The situation that most commonly motivated selfmedication were respiratory diseases (17.2%), fever (15%), and headache (14%). Subjects in the age group of 7-18 years (odds ratio = 2.81) and public health care users (odds ratio = 1.52) showed increased risk for self-medication. Conclusions:The prevalence of self-medication in children and adolescents was high, which reinforces the need for public health interventions aiming at preventing this practice.J Pediatr (Rio J). 2007;83(5):453-458: Children, adolescents, drugs, self-medication, pharmacoepidemiology.

Farmácias domiciliares e sua relação com a automedicação em crianças e adolescentes

“…18 Although classically the great majority of toxic exposures affecting children up to the age of 6 years are unintentional and of low toxicity, 18,19 swallowing just two pills of a calcium channel blocker such as nifedipine or amlodipine, for example, can cause serious morbidity and, occasionally, death at this age, indicating the risk generated by lack of concern for the safe storage of these medications. 20 In general the quantities of pharmaceutical preparations stored followed the same ranking as in a previous study in which we compared use of medications due to self-medication or recent medical prescription, 13 suggesting that keeping medicines at home could be one extra factor inducing self-medication, 11 particularly of analgesics/antipyretics and antibiotics for systemic use. 4,5,[8][9][10] Furthermore, the quantity of acetylsalicylic acid stored by the self-medication group was 10 times greater than the quantity stored by the medical prescription group, indicating that this medicine is probably not bought on the basis of medical advice.…”

“…From the families of the 772 people who met the inclusion criteria for the first phase of the self-medication study, 13 91.3% stored medications at home, restricting this analysis to a total of 705 home medicine chests (53.8% in Limeira,…”

“…4,5,[8][9][10][11] Although "responsible self-medication" (taking medicines that do not require a medical prescription to treat symptoms) may, possibly, reduce "pressure" on health systems where there are access difficulties, the procedure is contestable and is not risk free. 8,12 Taking into consideration the above, in combination with the fact that studies investigating the characteristics of home medicine chests are rare both internationally 4,5,8,9,11 and in Brazil, 10 the objective of this study was to investigate the principal characteristics of the home medicine chests of the families of individuals selected for a population-based epidemiological study into self-medication in children and adolescents, following up on a previously published paper 13 which analyzed other variables which could have had an influence on self-medication.…”

Over-the-counter whitening agents: a concise review

“…Economic, political and cultural factors can contribute to the growth and spreading of self-medication, including great availability, irresponsible publicity, pressure to convert prescription-only drugs in over-the-counter products, quality of health care and difficult access to health services, especially in poor countries. 26 Despite some recommendations indicating bleaching treatments for patients aged 15 years and above, 9 studies have been performed in patients with ages as early as 9 years. 23 Young patients (children and teenagers) are strongly susceptible to the irrational use of medications 26 and this should be kept in mind when indicating OTC bleaching products.…”

“…26 Despite some recommendations indicating bleaching treatments for patients aged 15 years and above, 9 studies have been performed in patients with ages as early as 9 years. 23 Young patients (children and teenagers) are strongly susceptible to the irrational use of medications 26 and this should be kept in mind when indicating OTC bleaching products.…”