title: Effect of ebastine on mosquito bites.
abstract: Mosquito bites usually cause wealing and delayed bite papules. Cetirizine decreases wealing, bite papules and pruritus but the effect of other antihistamines on mosquito bites is unknown. We studied the effect of ebastine in 30 mosquito bite-sensitive adult subjects. Ebastine 10 mg or 20 mg and placebo were given for 4 days in a cross-over fashion. Aedes aegypti bites were given on forearms. The size of the bite lesions and pruritus (visual analogue score) were measured at 15 min, 2, 6, and 24 h after the bites. Twenty-five subjects were evaluable in the study. At 15 min ebastine decreased significantly the size of the bite lesion (p = 0.0017) and pruritus (p<0.0001). The effects of 10 mg and 20 mg of ebastine were similar. No significant effect was found at 2, 6 or 24 h, but when the measurements at all four time points were compiled the size of the bite lesion and pruritus score decreased significantly. Sedation occurred during ebastine treatment in 6 (21%) and during placebo treatment in 2 (7%) subjects. The present results show that prophylactically given ebastine is effective against immediate mosquito bite symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Helsinki and University Hospital for Skin and Allergic Diseases, Finland.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Reunala
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Brummer-Korvenkontio
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Petman
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Palosuo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sarna
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000330:Aedes; D000818:Animals; D002090:Butyrophenones / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D007299:Insect Bites and Stings / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010880:Piperidines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011292:Premedication
chemical_list: D002090:Butyrophenones; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D010880:Piperidines; C058249:ebastine