All issues > Volume 44(6); 2001

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 2001;44(6):642-653. Published online June 15, 2001.

Survey on Upper Respiratory Tract Infections in Children

Seok Won SW Park¹, Hwang Min HM Kim¹, Jong Soo JS Kim¹, Kyu Earn KE Kim²

¹Department of Pediatrics, Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju, Korea
²Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea

Correspondence Jong Soo JS Kim ,Email: pdy1013@wonju.yonsei.ac.kr

Abstract

Purpose
: Recently, the numbers of non-pediatric doctors' giving medical treatment to children has shown a tendency to increase, especially in case of upper respiratory infection(URI) and it's complications such as tonsillitis, sinusitis and otitis media. Therefore we surveyed parents on children's URI and complications to find out parents' general understandings on pediatric treatment, what kind of pediatric treatment they prefer, and thus what we should improve in pediatric treatment of URI.
Methods
: We surveyed 1,000 parents, randomly sampled from 10 kindergartens in Wonju and Seoul during 2 months from June to July, 2000. We collected statistics on 708 answers. The survey consisted of 7 parts - Personal information, General opinions on URI, Nasal cold, Throat cold, Cough, Otitis media and Use of antimicrobial agents.
Results
: Most of the respondants were 36 to 40 years old(36.7%), and were women(men : women= 1 : 8.8). 17.5% thought newborn to pre-school, 53.1%, newborn to elementary school children, 23.7 %, newborn to middle school children should see pediatricians. 67.8% went to see a pediatrician first when their children catch cold. 75.7% didn't know the difference between sinusitis and empyema(chuknong syndrome), and if their children have empyema, 95.5% of them answered they would go to see ENT doctors. 69.5% answered that tonsillectomy is essential or in some degree effective in preventing colds. 57.6% thought weak a bronchus causes chronic cough, 22% thought post-nasal drip causes chronic cough. 41.8% thought doctors abused antimicrobial agents in giving medical treatment on colds, whereas only 12.4% thought doctors didn't abuse antimicrobial agents.
Conclusion
: Parents were fond of non-pediatric treatment according to symptoms and diagnosis. Also, many parents had incorrect understandings of URI and it's complications of their children. Therefore we think all pediatricians and Pediatric Society should give active and proper education on this matter.

Keywords :Survey, Upper respiratory infections