[Self health care when faced with acute pathology in childhood].

OBJECTIVE

To quantify and describe the self-care practices for children up to 14 seeking care because of an acute pathology.

DESIGN

An observation study carried out by means of a questionnaire administered to the person accompanying the patient.

SETTING

Primary Care: an urban Health Centre.

PATIENTS AND OTHER

PARTICIPANTS

The total number of cases of acute pathology treated during April and May 1993 in the Centre's paediatric clinics.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN

RESULTS

248 cases were studied (53% boys and 47% girls, with an average age of 5.3 +/- 3.85). Self-care (self-medication, 84.6%; non-pharmacological measures, 11.5%; both of these, 3.9%) was practised in 61.3% of cases (CI 95%: 55.2-67.4). The most common drugs were: antipyretics-analgesics (60%), antitussives (9.6%) and antibiotics (8.1%). Self-care was practised most often on patients presenting respiratory symptoms (69.6%) (p < 0.001), with self-medication predominant (91.2%) (p < 0.001). The number of days occurring between the appearance of symptoms and the medical consultation was greater among those who did not practise self-care (4.5 +/- 5.2 as against 2.1 +/- 1.8) (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Self-care is a very common practice among people seeking paediatric treatment. Self-medication, especially for respiratory trouble, is the most common form. Patients who practise self-care tend to be earlier in seeking a medical consultation.