Children with acute respiratory infections: how are they cared for at home?

Resumo

This exploratory-descriptive study aimed to identify the knowledge and needs of child caretakers with regards to acute respiratory infection. A sample of 129 children that had random numbers. Forms were applied to the caretakers in their homes during February and March 2002. The majority of caretakers were young women, had an incomplete elementary education, and income of 1-2 minimum salaries. With regards to the initial actions undertaken when the child is ill, 48,2% reported seeking a physician, 36,6% medicate the child on their own, and 13,2% use biotherapy. To prevent against pneumonia, the majority of the caretakers use common sense and they recognize the aggravating symptoms of diseases based on previous experiences, therefore pointing out a deficiency of knowledge of the signs and symptoms of the serious respiratory tract infections.