Perennial allergic rhinitis in children: efficiency and safety of using «Ergocetal»

Purpose — to evaluate the efficacy and safety of levocetirizine («Ergocetal») in children with perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR). Materials and methods. 30 children aged 6–16 years with PAR were examined. All children were prescribed levocetirizine («Ergocetal») 5 mg in the form of tablets once a day for a month for the treatment of PAR. The criteria for the effectiveness of the treatment were: regression of the main nasal and ocular symptoms of PAR (rhinorrhea, nasal congestion, nasal itching, sneezing, itching and redness of the eyes) according to the visual analogue scale (VAS); dynamics of nasal eosinophilia in a smearst from the nasal mucosa. Results. The studies have shown that prescribe of levocetirizine «Ergocetal» in monotherapy for school-age children with mild and intermittent PAR had a positive therapeutic effect on nasal and ocular symptoms, as well as on the intensity of eosinophilic inflammation in the nasal mucosa. Established good tolerance and the absence of side effects of «Ergotal» in the examined children. Conclusions. Therapeutic efficacy, absence of adverse reactions, high adherence to treatment make it possible to recommend levocetirizine («Ergocetal») as monotherapy for mild and intermittent PAR in school children. The research was carried out in accordance with the principles of the Helsinki declaration. The study protocol was approved by the Local Ethics Committee of an participating institution. The informed consent of the patient was obtained for conducting the studies. No conflict of interest was declared by the authors. Key words: allergic rhinitis, treatment, levocetirizine.