Side Effects of Leukotriene Receptor Antagonists in Asthmatic Children.
BACKGROUND
Leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRAs) are drugs which have been widely used more than ten years. As the use of LTRAs increases, our knowledge with respect to their side effects increases as well.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of our study was to evaluat the observed side effects of LTRAs used in patients with astma.


METHODS
1024 patients treated only with LTRAs owing to asthma or early wheezing were included in the study for a five-year period. The observed side effects of LTRAs in these patients were retrospectively investigated. The side effects were divided into two parts as psychiatric and non-psychiatric.


RESULTS
Among the 1024 cases included in the study, 67.5% of the patients out of 41 with side effects were male, 32.5% were female and the average age was 6.5 years. The rate of patients with asthma was 63.41% and 36.58% of the patients had early wheezing. It was determined that sex, age and diagnosis (early wheezing or asthma) of the patients were ineffective in the emergence of side effects. The average period for the emergence of side effects was the first month. It was observed that hyperactivity was the most frequently observed psychiatric side effect and that abdominal pain was the non-psychiatric side effect.


CONCLUSIONS
The side effects of LTRAs were common in children. Therefore, patients must be informed at the beginning of the treatment and they must be evaluated at certain intervals.
Department of Pediatric Allergy, Dr. Behcet Uz Children's Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
Semiha Bahceci
SB
Erdem
Department of Pediatric Allergy, Dr. Behcet Uz Children's Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
Hikmet Tekin
HT
Nacaroglu
Department of Pediatric Allergy, Dr. Behcet Uz Children's Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
Canan Sule
CS
Unsal Karkiner
Department of Pediatric Allergy, Dr. Behcet Uz Children's Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
Ilker
I
Gunay
Department of Pediatric Allergy, Dr. Behcet Uz Children's Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
Demet
D
Can
Asthma; Children; Leukotriene Receptor Antagonists; Side Effect; Wheezing