ANALYSIS OF THE USE OF NON-RECEPTION ANTI-FEVER MEDICINES IN CHILDREN
Authors: Starchenko G. Yu. , Struk O. A. , Kolyadzhyn T. I. 
Published: January 2025

The aim of the work was to analyze the use of over-the-counter antipyretic drugs in young children.
Methods and materials. Marketing, analytical, comparative analysis and generalization of information were chosen as research methods.
The study of the analysis of the needs of fever patients in the improvement of pharmaceutical care was conducted based on three pharmacies of the Podorozhnyk pharmacy chain, which were in the city of Ivano-Frankivsk. We conducted sociological research using questionnaires.
The survey was conducted from October 1 to 31, 2023. To ensure representativeness, according to the calculations, 50 respondents (visitors of pharmacies) were involved in the survey, who approached the pharmacy employee with the aim of purchasing an antipyretic drug for a younger child.
The results of the analysis were processed using computer programs.
The results. As of November 2023, the market of Ukraine is dominated by Ukrainian-made medical devices (66.7%). Among the dosage forms, tablets prevail - a total of 41 names and capsules (36 names), the least oral solutions and solutions for injections - 1 name each. Taking into account that the greater number of drugs refers to over-the-counter drugs, an important aspect of responsible self-medication by the patient and pharmaceutical care by the pharmacist is the clinical and pharmaceutical characteristics of the medicinal product in view of the API or its combination, its dose, dosage form, possibility and features application in separate groups of patients, in particular children, was the study and analysis of instructions for the medical use of drugs regarding the possibility of taking these drugs in children.
According to the analysis of the instructions for pharmaceuticals, it was found that 28% of drugs are allowed for use in children from birth to 1 year, from 1 year - 2.29%, from 3 years - 0.7%, from 5 years - 6.8%, from 6 years - 35.6%, from 10 years - 0.7%, from 12 years - 12.9%, more than 7 kg - 4.6%, more than 20 kg - 3.1%, more than 33 kg - 3.79%, as prescribed by a doctor taking into account the benefits/risks - 1.5%. To ensure representativeness, according to the calculations, 50 visitors to the pharmacy (representatives of the child) who came to the pharmacy to purchase an antipyretic drug for the treatment of a child's fever were involved in the survey.
Conclusions. The conducted clinical and pharmaceutical analysis showed that the treatment of hyperthermia in children must be approached very carefully, because the assortment of over-the-counter drugs in Ukraine is large, there is a synonymy of the names of drugs of individual companies, which contain different compositions of active substances of different concentrations, which are indicated for use in individual groups of patients. Considering that many pharmaceuticals are over the counter, an important aspect is the responsible attitude of the pharmaceutical worker to inform and warn the buyer of the pharmacy, as well as responsible self-medication on the part of the patient.
The effectiveness of antipyretic therapy will be higher when the pediatrician works together with the child's parents to improve medical literacy. From an ethical and deontological point of view, only close contact between the pediatrician and the patients' parents will allow to effectively eliminate febrile syndrome and prevent its dangerous and sometimes fatal consequences.