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Over-the-counter drug use—estimations within the Swedish paediatric population

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Abstract

We have used three different sources to estimate the use of drugs sold over the counter (OTC) by the Swedish paediatric population during 2007–2008 as part of a European evaluation initiated by the European Medicines Agency. An estimation of the paediatric use from the total numbers of over-the-counter drugs (OTCD) packages sold by Swedish pharmacies and analyses of two separate questionnaires directed towards a population of 11- to 14-year-old children and another towards visitors to one of the paediatric emergency wards in Stockholm County were included in the study. In Sweden, 1.25 OTC packages are sold quarterly per child (0–18 years), and the children in both questionnaire studies use, on average, 0.9 OTC substances. Sixty-five percent of the children visiting an emergency ward and 67% of the 13-year-old Stockholm inhabitants had used at least one OTCD. OTCD use among children is common. Interpretation of OTCD data must be done carefully since questions with regard to OTCD use is subject to recall bias and the number of packages sold to children is hypothesised through a conversion factor.

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Abbreviations

ATC:

Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical classification system

BAMSE:

Barn (Children) Allergy, Milieu, Stockholm, Epidemiology project

DDD:

Daily defined dose

MPA:

Swedish Medical Product Agency

OTC:

Over the counter

OTCD:

Over the counter drug(s)

SPC:

Summary of product characteristics

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Swedish MPA. The Emergency Department study was supported by grants from Karolinska University Hospital, Stiftelsen Samariten, Karolinska Institute Research Foundations, ALF (SLL 562177). The BAMSE research was financially supported by Stockholm County Council, The Swedish Heart and Lung Foundation, The Swedish Asthma and Allergy Association, The Swedish Foundation for Health Care Science and Allergy Research and The Swedish Research Council.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Astrid Lindgren Children’s Hospital, Karolinska University Hospital, 17176, Stockholm, Sweden

    Per Nydert & Synnöve Lindemalm

  2. Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

    Elin Kimland

  3. Department of Clinical Science and Education, Södersjukhuset, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

    Inger Kull

  4. Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

    Synnöve Lindemalm

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  1. Per Nydert
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  2. Elin Kimland
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  3. Inger Kull
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  4. Synnöve Lindemalm
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Correspondence to Per Nydert.

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Nydert, P., Kimland, E., Kull, I. et al. Over-the-counter drug use—estimations within the Swedish paediatric population. Eur J Pediatr 170, 583–588 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-010-1321-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-010-1321-5

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