title: Long-term cetirizine treatment reduces allergic symptoms and drug prescriptions in children with mite allergy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Experimental data demonstrate that mite allergy is characterized by persistent chronic inflammation, even during asymptomatic periods. This suggests that long-term continuous treatment be included in the global strategy of allergy treatment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We conducted a study to evaluate whether regularly administered cetirizine reduces allergic symptoms and drug prescriptions in children with mite allergy.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study, two parallel groups of 10 children with mite allergy (mean age: 6.5 years) received either cetirizine or placebo daily for 6 months. Participants were allowed to take rescue medications for rhinitis and/or mild asthma. The symptoms (nasal itching, sneezing, obstruction, rhinorrhea, conjunctival itching, lacrimation, conjunctival hyperemia, cough, wheezing, and chest tightness) were recorded on a diary card. The intake of cetirizine (as additional symptomatic treatment), antibiotics, acetaminophen, beta2-agonists, inhaled and systemic corticosteroids was also recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Symptom scores and drug consumption were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the cetrizine-treated group versus the placebo group. The greatest reductions were in cetirizine itself, inhaled corticosteroids, beta2-agonists, and antibiotics. No side effects were reported in either group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In mite-allergic children, cetirizine administered daily for prolonged periods decreases symptoms of and drug prescriptions for allergic rhinitis and asthma compared with symptomatic treatment.
authors.affiliation: Allergy and Immunology Clinic, Genoa, Italy. giocip@csita.unige.it
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ciprandi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tosca
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Passalacqua
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Canonica
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens; D000818:Animals; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017332:Cetirizine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008925:Mites; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D017332:Cetirizine