Many parents still believe antibiotics will benefit childhood RTIs

Antibiotics don't help with viral infections like childhood RTIs. Reassuring parents is often enough. 

  • 16 June 2017
Many parents still believe antibiotics will benefit childhood RTIs

An Australia-wide telephone survey of parents of at least one child aged 1–12 years was conducted in 2014 to explore parent beliefs about antibiotics and quantify their expectations for these medicines to manage common symptoms caused by acute respiratory tract infections (RTIs).1

Results from this survey (401 parent interviews) confirmed that the majority of parents overestimate the power of antibiotics for acute coughs, sore throats and acute otitis media.1 

 

Acute coughs

1 in 2 parents believe antibiotics are beneficial.1

 

Sore throats

7 in 10 parents believe antibiotics are beneficial.1

 

Acute otitis media

9 in 10 parents believe antibiotics are beneficial.1

 

When reassurance is the only prescription parents require

A study of focus group interviews with mothers of young children showed that the participants expected antibiotics if their child was sick for longer than expected,2 which highlights the need to educate parents on the usual duration of common childhood RTI symptoms. 

Use the Childhood RTI Fact Sheet: What every parent should know to give parents the reassurance they need to manage the symptoms of common childhood RTIs when antibiotics are not recommended.

Childhood RTI Fact Sheet: What every parent should know

Date published : 13 November 2017

Download PDF

Find out more about reducing antibiotic resistance 

 

References

  1. Coxeter PD, Del Mar C, Hoffmann TC. Parents\u2019 expectations and experiences of antibiotics for acute respiratory infections in primary care. Ann Fam Med 2017;15:149-154.
  2. Gaarslev C, Yee M, Chan G, Fletcher-Lartey S, Khan R. A mixed methods study to understand patient expectations for antibiotics for an upper respiratory tract infection Antimicrob Resist Infect Control 2016;5:39.