1Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology, desh Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Bathinda151101, India.
2Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Gian Sagar Medical College and Hospital, Ramnagar–Rajpura, Patiala - 140601, India.
3Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Desh Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Bathinda151101, India.
4Assistant Professor, Department of ENT, Adesh Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Bathinda151101, India.
5Professor and Head, Department of Pharmacology, Chintpurni Medical College and Hospital, Bungal, Pathankot – 145001, India.
*Email id: drrajivmahajan01@yahoo.co.in
Online published on 15 January, 2013.
Seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) is a common childhood problem affecting up to 40% children. Many medications are available for use in paediatric population, but comparative studies in children aged 2–5 years are lacking.
Present study evaluates the efficacy and tolerability of leukotriene antagonist, montelukast in comparison to antihistaminic levocetirizine in SAR in children aged 2–5 years.
A total of 400 patients of SAR aged 2–5 years were randomised to receive either montelukast 4 mg tablets or syrup levocetirizine 5 mg orally at night, during the spring season. The primary efficacy and tolerability end points were change in the total nasal symptom score (TNSS) and modified treatment tolerability evaluation score (MTTES), respectively. Symptom/tolerability scores were recorded by parents/guardians.
Study comprises of 63% boys. At the end of the study, mean decrease in TNSS was 28.8% and 29.7% with montelukast and levocetirizine, respectively (P<0.001), compared to baseline. There was non-significant (P>0.05) increase in MTTES. Only 3% patients on montelukast and 2% on levocetirizine needed additional drug treatment.
Montelukast monotherapy is well tolerated and provides comparable improvements to levocetirizine in daytime and nighttime symptoms, as well as quality of life parameters, for children aged 2–5 years, with SAR.
Allergic rhinitis, Montelukast, Efficacy, Nasal congestion, Levocetirizine, Tolerability
