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Over-the-counter medication use among US preschool-age children
1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, Hyattsville, MD 20782.
Insights
Over half of US preschool-aged children used over-the-counter (OTC) medications in 30 days, often for illness. White, educated, higher-income, and uninsured mothers were more likely to administer OTC drugs.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Pharmacoepidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Over-the-counter (OTC) medications are frequently used for common childhood ailments.
- Understanding the prevalence and patterns of OTC medication use in young children is crucial for public health initiatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of recent over-the-counter (OTC) medication use in a national sample of preschool-aged children in the United States.
- To identify factors associated with OTC medication administration in this population.
Main Methods:
- A nationally representative sample of 8,145 3-year-old children in the US was surveyed via telephone or in-person interviews.
- Data collected included the use of any OTC medications in the past 30 days and the types of medications administered.
- Maternal demographic characteristics and healthcare utilization were also recorded.
Main Results:
- 53.7% of 3-year-old children received OTC medications within the past 30 days.
- Tylenol and cough/cold medicines were the most commonly reported OTC medications.
- Mothers who were white, more educated, had higher incomes, or lacked health insurance were more likely to give their children OTC medications.
- Provider visits were associated with reduced OTC medication use, while telephone calls were not.
Conclusions:
- Over-the-counter medications represent a significant aspect of healthcare for treating illnesses in US preschool-aged children.
- The high prevalence of OTC medication use persists despite limited evidence of efficacy for some medications and potential risks associated with misuse.
Objective:
To estimate the prevalence of recent over-the-counter (OTC) medication use in a national sample of preschool-age children.
Design:
Follow-up survey of a nationally representative sample of 3-year-old children in the US population by telephone or personal interview.
Participants:
A total of 8145 children whose mothers were interviewed for the 1991 Longitudinal Follow-up to the National Maternal and Infant Health Survey.
Main Outcome Measures:
Report of any OTC medications given in the past 30 days and the type of medications that the child received.
Results:
During the past 30 days, 53.7% of all 3-year-old children in the United States were given some OTC medications. Among OTC medication users, the most common medications reported were Tylenol (66.7%) and cough or cold medicine (66.7%). Most respondents reported that recent child illness episodes (70%) were treated with OTC medications. After adjustment for recent child illness, women who were white (odds ratio [OR], 1.32; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.13 to 1.55), were more educated (OR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.24 to 2.00), and had higher incomes (OR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.33 to 2.30) were more likely to have given their child OTC medications. Women without health insurance were also more likely to have given OTC medications (OR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.55). Provider visits, but not telephone calls, were associated with a reduction in OTC medication usage.
Conclusions:
Over-the-counter medications are an important component of health care for treating illness in US preschool-age children. The high prevalence of use has occurred despite the dearth of scientific proof for the effectiveness of certain classes of OTC medications and the risks associated with improper use.