Parental views of antibiotic use in children with upper respiratory tract infections in Dubai

Introduction: Upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) are mainly caused by viral infection. However, parental attitudes often lead to inappropriate prescription of antibiotics enhancing the development of antibiotic resistance. The aim of the present study was to assess the parents' knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) towards the use of antibiotics for childhood URTIs, at Al Jalila Children's Specialty Hospital in Dubai. Methods: During the study period, 467 parents of young children completed a validated - structured questionnaire. Main outcome measures included: knowledge, attitudes and practices of parents towards antibiotic use for children with upper respiratory tract infections. Results: Lack of awareness and gaps in common knowledge regarding antibiotics and their use were noted among parents. Although only 10% of respondents believed that antibiotics are devoid from adverse effects, nearly one-third of them (33.6%) believed that a child should be given an antibiotic if it develops a fever regardless of the cause, even though 48.6% they were aware that most URTIs were viral in nature. Parents reported that they administered antibiotics to children without medical advice most of the time for various reasons, including lack of time or money (83.9%), based on a pharmacist's recommendation (68.3%), or using a previously prescribed antibiotic for a similar illness (66.2%). Conclusion: Overall, this study showed low awareness among parents regarding the use of antibiotics for treating their children's viral infections. Additionally, these results pave the way for further educational interventions to enhance the awareness of parents about antibiotics to reduce their inappropriate use and its consequences.