CETIRIZINE TREATMENT OF ALLERGIC COUGH IN CHILDREN WITH POLLEN ALLERGY

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 allergi c cough due to pollen allergy. This was a parallel-group, double-blind , placebo-controlled, randomized study. Twenty children with pollinosi s were enrolled: they were subdivided into two groups receiving a 1-mo nth treatment during the pollen season. The following variables were m onitored: 1) clinical symptoms and respiratory data (spirometry and PE F) 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 cet irizine treatment reduces cough intensity (P<0.05) and frequency (P<0. 01). In conclusion, cetirizine does clinically improve cough due to po llen allergy.