Objective: To determine the typical characteristics of small children on recurrent therapy with antibiotics (RTA) and the effects RTA have on the families.
Design: Stratified randomised cluster sampling.
Setting: An unselected population-based questionnaire study in Finland.
Subjects: Parents (n = 1443) expecting their first child were followed prospectively from the mother's early pregnancy until the child was 18 months of age.
Main outcome measures: The outcome measure was the number of courses of antibiotic therapy (options: 011-51 > or = 6) during the child's first 18 months of life. Six or more courses were considered RTA. Associated variables were child- and family-related factors during the child's first 18 months of life.
Results: Children on RTA were taken to see a physician more often than other children when they had fever or a common cold. RTA was significantly associated with the child's day care outside the home, allergy and need for a special diet. The father's severe stress was associated with the child's RTA. Breastfeeding lasting more than 3 months was found to have a protective effect against RTA.
Conclusion: The threshold for seeking medical help was low in the families of children on RTA, which is best avoided by breastfeeding and day care at home. Health care staff should not forget to support families, especially the fathers, with children experiencing recurrent infections.