[Acute cough in infants: impact of national guidelines on medical practices in a French department].

CONTEXT AND AIM: Guidelines have been published regularly since 2010 by the ANSM (the Health Products Safety Agency) advising against antitussive drugs for infants because of their inefficacy and their side effects (convulsions, respiratory congestion). Antihistamines, mucolytics, and terpene-based suppositories have theoretically disappeared from infant pharmacopoeia. We assessed the degree of compliance with these guidelines on the part of health professionals.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

From June 2012 to August 2012, 198 general practitioners and 44 pediatricians were assessed in the Alpes-Maritimes department of France by means of questionnaires. At the same time, an analysis of medical prescriptions was sought from the Regional Directorate of Medical Services (RDMS) of the PACA-Corse region Health Insurance.

RESULTS

The rate of noncompliance with the contraindications was 14.9% (17.7% general practitioners and 2.3% pediatricians). The RDMS study showed a slight decrease in prescriptions for antitussives not recommended from 2011 to 2012: -21% for pediatricians, -15.5% for generalist physicians.

CONCLUSION

Continued educational and informative campaigns are therefore needed to stop medical prescriptions of cough medicines for infants, which should also involve parents.