To the Editor: Self-medication among children is a growing concern in pediatric medicine. This study examines the prevalence and associated factors of parental self-medication in children with fever. A quantitative descriptive cross-sectional observational study was conducted, involving 600 parents with children under 14 y.

The findings indicate a significant proportion of parents resorting to self-medication for their children's fever. Approximately 48.2% of parents administered medication without knowledge of the cause or appropriate treatment. Antipyretics were administered by 97.2% of parents, while antibiotics were commonly utilized, with their systematic use alongside antipyretics in 45.7% of cases. Several predictors of parental self-medication were identified. These included being a healthcare personnel (excluding physicians) (OR = 1.54, 95% CI: 1.11–2.14), having more than two children (OR = 2.102, 95% CI: 1.518–2.921), having a working mother (OR = 2.16, 95% CI: 1.84–3.6), and over-the-counter sale of drugs (OR = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.086–2.4). Factors associated with self-medication of antibiotics were higher parental education level (OR = 2.14, 95% CI: 1.03–4.15), being a healthcare worker (OR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.03–4.15), child's age over 24 mo (OR = 1.771, 95% CI: 1.253–2.503), previous incident-free drug use (OR = 1.562, 95% CI: 1.003–2.431), and seeking advice from a pharmacist (OR = 1.674, 95% CI: 1.174–2.387).

The study highlights the importance of parental education in improving knowledge, managing anxiety, and reducing unnecessary healthcare visits [1]. It suggests providing information on the benefits of moderate fever [2], the potential risks of antipyretic drugs, and the harmful consequences of excessive antibiotic therapy. Additionally, the study emphasizes the role of the government in revising drug sale regulations, particularly for antibiotics [3].