title: Cetirizine treatment of allergic cough in children with pollen allergy.
abstract: Cetirizine, an antihistamine widely used in the treatment of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, also has antiallergic activity. The present study aimed to evaluate cetirizine as a treatment for children with allergic cough due to pollen allergy. This was a parallel-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study. Twenty children with pollinosis were enrolled: they were subdivided into two groups receiving a 1-month treatment during the pollen season. The following variables were monitored: 1) clinical symptoms and respiratory data (spirometry and PEF) evaluated at baseline and at the end of the study by allergists and by a daily diary card, and 2) pollen count. This study shows that cetirizine treatment reduces cough intensity (P < 0.05) and frequency (P < 0.01). In conclusion, cetirizine does clinically improve cough due to pollen allergy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Genoa University, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ciprandi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tosca
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ricca
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Passalacqua
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fregonese
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fasce
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Canonica
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017332:Cetirizine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D003371:Cough / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013147:Spirometry
chemical_list: D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D017332:Cetirizine