Self-medication trends in children in North Macedonia

Angelovska, Bistra and Drakalska, Elena (2019) Self-medication trends in children in North Macedonia. In: First international scientific-practical conference “Together for children of Bulgaria”, 14-16 March 2019, Varna, Bulgaria. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

Aim of the study:
The use of medication in children and infants represents a unique set of challenges for prescribing physician as the children are among the most vulnerable population in every society. Self-medication in children is especially important issue since improper self-diagnosis and treatment of serious illness can lead to significant risk of drug-drug interactions as well as an increased risk of adverse effects and potential abuse. However, self-medication provides direct and fast access to effective drugs due to their widespread availability in pharmacies. The aim of this study is to represent the most common illness for which self-medication was resorted, comparison of recommendations of guidelines from relevant world sources (WHO, FDA, MBD and others) with regulation for self-medication in Republic of Macedonia and to determine the self-medication trends in children by their parents.
Materials and methods:
Parents' knowledge and attitude to self-medication of children in Eastern Macedonia was determined by anonymous survey. The survey was conducted in 6 municipalities near the healthcare institutions.
Results and discussion
Most common conditions for self-medication were fever, cough, flu, vomiting, diarrhea and allergies. In Republic of North Macedonia, there are lists of non-prescription pediatric drugs in pharmaceutical dosage forms most appropriate for this population according to recommendations of WHO, FDA and evidence-based medicine.
Conclusion
The obtained results from the conducted survey showed that self-medication is most common in children with headache, while in children and infants with diarrhea and constipation parents often seek help from doctor and pharmacist. Unfortunately, parents often give antibiotics in children with common cold and cough.

Key words: children, infants, parents, self-medication

Item Type: Conference or Workshop Item (Lecture)
Subjects: Medical and Health Sciences > Other medical sciences
Divisions: Faculty of Medical Science
Depositing User: Bistra Angelovska
Date Deposited: 28 Mar 2019 09:12
Last Modified: 28 Mar 2019 09:12
URI: https://eprints.ugd.edu.mk/id/eprint/21836

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