title: Clinical efficacy and safety of a combined loratadine-betamethasone oral solution in the treatment of severe pediatric perennial allergic rhinitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  : Allergic rhinitis is a highly prevalent condition, particularly among children, whose schoolwork and quality of life may be impaired by its symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  : In this prospective, multicenter study, children between 6 and 12 years old with a diagnosis of severe perennial allergic rhinitis received a combination of the nonsedating antihistamine loratadine and the corticosteroid betamethasone in an oral solution for 5 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  : The total nasal and ocular symptom score was significantly reduced from 11.4 (±2.1) before treatment to 2.9 (±2.4) after treatment (P < 0.01). Significant reductions (P < 0.01) were also observed for sneezing, nasal pruritus, nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, postnasal drip, and ocular erythema and pruritus. No adverse events were reported, and no subject discontinued treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  : The combination of loratadine and betamethasone in an oral solution was safe and effective as initial short-term treatment for symptoms of severe perennial allergic rhinitis in school-aged children.
authors.affiliation: From the 1Instituto de Otorrinolaringologia San Bernardino, Caracas, Venezuela; and 2Policlinica Metropolitana, Caracas, Venezuela.
authors.forename: Teolinda
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mendoza de Morales
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sánchez