title: The use of unprescribed antibiotics in management of upper respiratory tract infection in children in Enugu, South East Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is a documented fact that upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) is more of a viral illness.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aims at documenting the prevalence of the use of unprescribed antibiotics in children aged <5 years with upper respiratory symptomatology.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four hundred twenty-three mother-child pairs were enrolled for this study. Chi-square and logistic regression analysis were used to find association between use of unprescribed antibiotics and variables of interest.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of unprescribed antibiotics in children aged <5 years in the management of URTI is 75.9%. The antibiotics abuse was commoner in older children with URTI (45.9% in children aged 12-24 months) and among mothers with higher educational attainment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Antibiotics abuse among mothers is high. Government, through its responsible agencies, should enforce stricter control or outrightly stop sale of antibiotics over-the-counter to prevent the dreaded antibiotics resistance.
authors.affiliation: Department of paediatrics, College of Medicine, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Uchenna
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ekwochi
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Nigeria/Teaching Hospital, Enugu State, Nigeria josephat.chinawa@unn.edu.ng.
authors.forename: Josephat M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Chinawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Survival Unit, Medical Research Council, Serrekunda, Gambia.
authors.forename: Chidi D I
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Osuorah
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Nigeria/Teaching Hospital, Enugu State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Odutola I
authors.initials: OI
authors.lastname: Odetunde
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Nigeria/Teaching Hospital, Enugu State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Herbert A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Obu
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Enugu State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Agwu
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019468:Disease Management; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination
keywords: URTI; children aged <5 years; unprescribed antibiotics