Self-medication of children by parents during a febrile episode

Self-medication in the paediatric population is a worrying global problem that requires careful identification of underlying risk factors. Our research has highlighted this trend, mainly characterized by the frequent use of antipyretics in conjunction with antibiotics to treat fever in children. The risk factors we identified focus mainly on parents' lack of knowledge about fever and the drugs they administer. These findings underline the imperative need to increase parental awareness and review regulations governing the over-the-counter sale of medicines, particularly antibiotics, with a view to ensuring children's safety.