title: Observational study on the dispensing of cough syrups to children with acute cough by community pharmacists in France.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Over-the-counter medicines may be proposed by pharmacists for children with acute cough. Study objectives were to describe the sociodemographic profile of children who were proposed a cough syrup by a pharmacist, the nature of the cough and type(s) of cough syrup proposed and to assess the evolution of the cough, tolerance and satisfaction with treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational, prospective, longitudinal, multicentre study with 157 pharmacies in France. Children who were proposed a cough syrup by a pharmacist were recruited. Questionnaires were completed by the pharmacists and/or parents at inclusion and by the parents after 5 days of treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four hundred fourteen children were included (mean age: 6.0±2.9 years); 45.9% had a dry and 43.3% a productive cough. 30.4% were proposed an allopathic antitussive syrup, 28.3% an allopathic expectorant syrup and 23.7% a homeopathic syrup. Children with a dry cough were more likely to be given an allopathic antitussive (55.2%) or homeopathic (28.2%) syrup. Children with a productive cough or cough of several days duration were more likely to be given an allopathic expectorant syrup (70.1%). Cough disappearance was more frequent with homeopathic syrups compared to allopathic expectorants (P=0.002), or allopathic antitussives (P=0.042). Adverse events were most common with allopathic antitussive syrups (18.7%) (P<0.001). Two-thirds of parents were satisfied with the treatment their child received.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pharmacists play an important role in the management of acute cough in children. Homeopathic cough syrups may have an interest in terms of public health.
authors.affiliation: Ceren Esc, Dijon, France.|Department of Medical Information, CHU Dijon, France.
authors.forename: François-André
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Allaert
authors.affiliation: Boiron Laboratories, Messimy, France - stephanie.villet@boiron.fr.
authors.forename: Stéphanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Villet
authors.affiliation: Boiron Laboratories, Messimy, France.
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vincent
authors.affiliation: Pharmacie du Vallon, Sainte Foy-Lès-Lyon, France.
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sauve
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000996:Antitussive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services; D003371:Cough / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005100:Expectorants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000996:Antitussive Agents; D005100:Expectorants; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs