Survey on attitudes of Italian pediatricians toward cough

Abstract

ContextChildren’s cough is a daily concern for most pediatricians. The management of both acute and chronic cough requires a systematic and comprehensive approach. Despite the approved protocols for management, the pediatric assessment of cough and the corresponding prescribing attitude frequently do not fit these protocols, which can be affected by parental suggestions – sometimes substantially.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to investigate both the perception and the behavior of a representative sample of Italian pediatricians toward cough in real life.MethodsA specific questionnaire consisting of 18 questions was prepared. The questionnaire was completed by 300 pediatricians (all members of PAIDOSS: Italian National Observatory on Health of Childhood and Adolescence) who represented ~300,000 children.ResultsA vast majority of children have cough throughout the year (99.3% of respondents have cough during autumn/winter and 64.7% in spring/summer). Allergic disease is the most frequent suspected cause of chronic cough in children (53%), and this is supported by the high demand for consultations: 73% seek the opinion of allergologists, 62% of otorhinolaryngologists and only 33% of pulmonologists. The majority of pediatricians (92%) reported that they prescribe therapy in acute cough regardless of cough guidelines. Moreover, the survey pointed out the abuse of aerosol therapy (26% in acute cough and 38% in chronic cough) and of antibiotics prescription (22% in acute cough and 42% in chronic cough).ConclusionOur survey suggests that some Italian pediatricians’ therapeutic attitudes should be substantially improved in order to achieve better management of cough in children and to minimize the burden of cough.

Efficacy and safety of the syrup “KalobaTUSS®” as a treatment for cough in children: a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial

“…In most cases, acute cough is self-restrained, but its perseverance can be exasperating and can worsen the quality of life and common social participation [ 3 ].…”

Efficacy and Safety of the Syrup "KalobaTUSS® " for the Treatment of Cough in Children: a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial

“…In most cases it is self-restrained, but its perseverance sometimes is exasperating and it can worsen quality of life and common social participation [2].…”

“…Despite of the inappropriate prescription of antitussive pharmacological treatment in children has been reduced, pediatrics prescribing attitudes do not still always are re ecting accurate treatment of cough [2].…”

“…Epidemiological data indicate that cough occurring in children produces more anxiety than in adult people, and a lot of people think of this symptom as "a disease". A recent Italian survey con rms this view suggesting that some inclination of pediatricians therapeutic should be modi ed in favor to realize a better control of cough in children and to reduce its impact [2]. Moreover, it often happens that attempting to treat cough, children are administered with over-the-counter products having little or no scienti c evidence of proven e cacy [6].…”

XII AIST 2018 Conference: “The thousand faces of cough: clinical and therapeutic updates”

“…According to recent estimates of the SIMG (Italian Society of General Practice), acute cough involves 6 million specific consultations per year, and the chronic one involves over 3 million consultations: thus cough is the third cause that induces a patient to visit his doctor in Italy. In the pediatric field, a recent Italian epidemiological study, conducted in 2017 by Prof. Roberto Dal Negro, has found that over two thirds of Italian children present at least one cough episode during the year [ 1 ].…”