[Use of first and second generation antihistaminics in pediatric patients with allergic rhinitis].

The authors studied 75 outpatients seen in the Pediatric Allergy Clinic of the Social Security Metropolitan Hospital Complex and of the Paitilla Medical Clinics, between 4 and 14 years of age, 28 females and 47 males, because they were suffering from allergic rhinitis and most of them (84%) had an elevated immunoglobulin E level. Skin tests were positive with house dust (100% of patients), house dust mites (95%), molds (92%) and grasses (22%). Symptoms occurred at any time of the year in 56 (73%) patients, and in the rainy season in only 20 (27%). All were examined by the same investigator at the beginning of the study and at the end of the first and second week. A family member evaluated the symptoms daily in the morning and at night. For this purpose the following scale was used: 0 = no symptoms; 1 = mild; 2 = moderate; 3 = severe symptoms. The symptoms evaluated were nasal congestion and sneezing, rhinorrhea and conjunctival congestion, post nasal drip and pharyngeal irritation. The signs that were evaluated were dark circles around the eyes, hypertrophy of the turbinates, the color of the nasal mucosa, the presence of polyps and deviation of the nasal septum. This study showed that Terfenadine improved the rhinitis in 87.5% of the patients, that Clemastine was effective in 70.5%, and that placebo, in 43%. Also, somnolence was observed in 4% and dryness, in 43% of patients using Terfenadine, while Clemastine induced somnolence in 32% of patients.