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A del Cuvillo,1 J
Sastre,2 J Montoro,3 I Jáuregui,4
M Ferrer,5 I Dávila,6 J
Bartra,7 J Mullol,8 A Valero,7 |
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1 Clínica Dr. Lobatón, Cádiz, Spain
2 Service of Allergy, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid,
Spain
3 Allergy Unit, Hospital La Plana, Villarreal
(Castellón), Spain
4 Service of Allergy, Hospital de Basurto, Bilbao, Spain
5 Department of Allergology, Clínica Universitaria de
Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
6 Service of Immunoallergy, Hospital Clínico, Salamanca,
Spain
7 Allergy Unit. Service of Pneumology and Respiratory
Allergy, Hospital Clínic (ICT), Barcelona, Spain
8 Rhinology Unit, ENT Service (ICEMEQ), Hospital Clínic,
Barcelona, Spain |
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Abstract |
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Drugs with
antihistamine action
are among the most
commonly prescribed
medicines in
pediatrics.
According to the
International
Medical Statistics (IMS),
almost two million
antihistamine units
(in solution) for
pediatric use were
sold in Spain during
2006 - at a cost of
nearly 6 million
euros. Of this
amount, 34%
corresponded to
first-generation (or
sedating)
antihistamines.
The difficulties
inherent to research
for drug development
increase
considerably when
the pediatric age
range is involved.
The use of any
medication in this
age group must
adhere to the
strictest safety
criteria, and must
offer the maximum
guarantees of effi
cacy. For this
reason, detailed
knowledge of the
best scientific
evidence available
in relation to these
aspects is essential
for warranting drug
use.
The first-generation
antihistamines have
never been
adequately studied
for pediatric age
groups, though they
are still widely
used in application
to such patients. In
contrast, studies in
children have been
made with the second-generation
antihistamines,
allowing us to know
their safety profile,
and such medicines
are available at
pediatric dosages
that have been well
documented from the
pharmacological
perspective.
The present review
affords an update to
our most recent
knowledge on
antihistamine use in
children, based on
the best scientific
evidence available.
Key words:
Antihistamines.
Pediatrics. Children.
Allergic rhinitis.
Atopic dermatitis.
Allergic
conjunctivitis.
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