We have created a number of resources to help parents and clinicians care for children with coughs and respiratory tract infections.

Posters and leaflets for parents

These resources were created by a collaboration of researchers, GPs and parents. The information given on these resources is taken from the most up to date research (in January 2016) on how to care for babies and children with cough (caused by an infection not by asthma), and current NICE guidance on management of feverish children.

They are designed either for parents to download directly or for GP practices to download and distribute to parents.

• Caring for children with cough - A4 leaflet for parents (PDF, 1,902kB)
• Caring for children with cough - A3 poster for GP surgeries (PDF, 1,734kB)
• Caring for children with cough - A4 leaflet for professional printing (PDF, 1,758kB)

Posters and information for researchers and policymakers

These posters summarise the main findings of our research and the implications for policy

• Published evidence from systematic reviews (PDF, 137kB)
• Evidence from qualitative studies (PDF, 115kB)
• Using STARWAVe in practice to predict hospitalisation (PDF, 152kB)

Animation

What parents want from a GP consultation for their child's cough or respiratory tract infection

This short animation gives an insight into the different priorities that parents and GPs have during a consultation. It is based on real consultations that we recorded during our research.

Press releases

Bristol researchers aim to improve the use of antibiotics in primary care
February 2016
New research led by Bristol NHS CCG and the University of Bristol, aimed at improving the quality of primary care for children with respiratory tract infections (RTIs) will be presented in London today (Feb 26th).

Researchers uncover GPs’ dilemma over prescribing antibiotics for children with respiratory tract infections
February 2016
GPs find making decisions about prescribing antibiotics in children with respiratory tract infections (RTIs) difficult - on the one hand, the over-prescription of antibiotics is recognised as a serious concern but, on the other, treating a significant infection may require antibiotics. Primary care practitioners such as GPs are responsible for 80% of all antibiotic prescriptions in the UK and around half of these are for RTIs, despite the fact that their effectiveness in treating RTIs has been shown to be limited. Now researchers from the University of Bristol’s Centre for Academic Primary Care have investigated the reasons behind antibiotic prescribing decisions for children with RTIs.

Researchers uncover motivations for the high level of prescribed antibiotics for children’s coughs
July 2015
Researchers from the University of Bristol have investigated what leads to high use of antibiotics for children with coughs and found the motives for their use are complex but centre around children being vulnerable.

Presentations

Dr Christie Cabral gives the parent perspective

Dr Jeremy Horwood gives the clinician perspective

These resources contain independent research funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) under its Programme Grant for Applied Research (Grant Reference Number RP-PG-0608-10018). The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health