Antibiotic therapy for acute respiratory viral infections in children: what do parents know about antibiotics and antibiotic resistance?

Abstract

One of the causes of antibiotic resistance (AR) is irrational use of antibiotics (ABs) that are commonly administered to patients with acute respiratory viral infections (ARVIs). Rational AB use largely depends on the awareness of people. Objective. To analyze the awareness of people about AR and AB use, as well as to assess the attitude to AB therapy among parents of preschool children. Materials and methods. We conducted anonymous survey among 513 parents of preschool children in Tomsk. Results. Almost two-thirds (61.6%) of respondents admitted that their children received AB during cold/flu/ARVI. The most commonly used ABs were amoxicillin (62.3%), azithromycin (19.7%), and amoxicillin with clavulanic acid (11.1%). The majority of patients administered ABs to their children only after doctor's prescription (80.4%) and adhered to treatment regimen (79.7%). A total of 65.8% respondents stated that doctors had explained why AB therapy was necessary. Nearly two out of three parents (62.4%) believed that ABs may have a negative impact on health. More than half of the respondents were aware of AR. Conclusion. The majority of parents use antibiotics to treat ARVI in their children only with doctor's prescription. However, we observed insufficient awareness about AR, AB use, and possible side effects, which necessitates the development of educational programs for the population. Key words: antibiotic resistance, antibiotic therapy, antibiotics, children, awareness, acute respiratory viral infections, acute respiratory diseases