title: Inappropriate use of promethazine and promethazine-containing products in children under the age of three years in Harare, Zimbabwe.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether there was inappropriate use of promethazine, Stopayne or Goldgesic in children under three (3) years of age in Harare, and to measure its extent. Inappropriate referred to administering these medicines to children under the age of two (2) years for any indication or the administering of these medicines to an otherwise healthy child less than three (3) years old for sedation purposes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive cross-sectional study carried out between May and July 2010.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retail pharmacies in Harare, Zimbabwe.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percentages of pharmacy personnel who indicated that parents request these syrups for sedation purposes in their children were: 20.8% promethazine; 18.9% Stopayne; and 9.6% Goldgesic. With respect to parents, it was found that 25% administered these syrups to children aged below 2 years. Of the parents who administered these syrups to their children about 7.7% did so for sedation purposes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was significant inappropriate use of all 3 syrups in children under the age of 3 years (p < 0.05). Direct evidence was seen in that pharmacy personnel dispensed these medicines for use in infants and parents administered these syrups to infants.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Marume
authors: T G
authors: TG
authors: Muvirimi
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Chitindingu
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Mutingwende
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000367:Age Factors; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003061:Codeine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008620:Meprobamate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D063487:Prescription Drug Misuse; D011398:Promethazine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015030:Zimbabwe
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; C044907:Stopayne; D000082:Acetaminophen; D008620:Meprobamate; D011398:Promethazine; D003061:Codeine