Traditional and Complementary Medicine Practices Used by Mothers in the Treatment of Acute Upper Respiratory Tract Infections in Children

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the traditional and complementary medicine methods used by mothers of children with acute upper respiratory tract infection. Material-Method: We conducted a survey study with questions regarding the traditional and complementary medicine methods used by mothers of 300 children aged 2-12 years who presented to the pediatric outpatient clinic with symptoms of acute upper respiratory tract infections. Results: Eighty-six point seven percent of mothers reported using traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM) practices with varying frequencies. When asked about the frequency of using non-pharmacological treatment options, 36.4% stated that they always preferred these methods, while 40.6% said they sometimes did. It was observed that 42.3% of mothers started alternative treatments before visiting a doctor, while 40.6% used T&CM after seeing a doctor if they could not get better with the medication prescribed by the doctor. The most common reason for choosing T&CM methods, at 50.3%, was the belief that these treatments are natural and harmless . The most frequently performed practices included giving honey to reduce coughing (36%) and using lukewarm baths to lower fever (74.3%), as well as rinsing nasal congestion with saline or saltwater (48.3%). The information sources regarding these practices were family members (60.6%) and the internet or social media (50.3%). No statistically significance was found between mothers' ages, educational levels, or employment status and the use of T&CM for upper respiratory tract infections. Conclusion: We found that mothers frequently used various T&CM methods, and that incorrect treatments were common. Families should be informed about what constitutes correct and incorrect treatment practices, and they should be warned about the potential side effects of incorrect treatments.