O que é bom para tosse? Uma perspectiva médico-sociológica sobre os remédios para tratar tosse e resfriado em pediatria

Abstract

The medications for cough and cold are widely known and used by brazilian population. The purpose of this dissertation is to understand why these medications are so popular despite medical concerns about their use in children. The methodology used was the search for scientific evidence on safety and efficacy of these substances, in addition to the record and analysis of a meeting that took place in 2008 by the Food and Drugs Admnistration. Philosophy and sociology authors were also used to analyze the results found, such as Van der Geest, Fernando Lefèvre, Philipe Pignarre and Georges Canguilhem. The results obtained were that these substances are used due their sedative potential in several cases; the study found no medical evidence to support the use of medications in the biomedical point of view based on efficacy and safety concerns. However, the sociological analysis allowed the elaboration that these drugs assume the role of medical care, attributing symbolic values to cold and flu processes. The conclusion of the study allows us to affirm that the exclusive biochemical view of the substance is insufficient to understand the social place of these medications, their kinds of use and their meanings. Syrups, as this research chose to name these medications generically, even though they have a questionable biochemical effect, are capable of having a great impact on the symbolic attributions of disease and cure.