Efficacy comparison of cetirizine and loratadine for allergic rhinitis in children

Background Allergic rhinitis represents a global health problemaffecting 10% to more than 40% of the population worldwide.Several studies in recent years have described the efficacy ofsecond-generation antihistamines in younger children. It isnot well established whether cetirizine is more effective thanloratadine in reducing symptoms of allergic rhinitis.Objective The objective of this study was to compare the efficacyof loratadine with cetirizine for treatment of allergic rhinitis.Methods We conducted a randomized, double-blind, controlledtrial of 100 children, aged 13 to 16 years, from October toNovember 2009 at two junior high schools in Medan. GroupI received 10 mg of cetirizine and group II received 10 mg ofloratadine, each once daily in the morning for 14 days. Drugefficacy was assessed by changes from baseline symptom scoresand evaluation of therapeutic responses after 3 days, 7 days and14 days of treatment.Results The efficacy of cetirizine compared to that of loratadinewas not statistically significant in diminishing nasal symptomsafter 3 days, 7 days and 14 days of treatment (P=0.40, P=0.07,and P=0.057, respectively). Evaluation of side effects, however,revealed significantly fewer headaches in the cetirizine group after3 days and 7 days of treatment (P=0.01 and P=0.03, respectively)than in the loratidine group. In addition, the loratadine grouphad significantly more instances of palpitations after 7 days oftreatment (P=0.04) compared to the cetirizine group.Conclusion There was no significant difference in cetirizine andloratadine treatment effectiveness on allergic rhinitis. However,loratadine was found to cause more headaches and palpitationsthan cetirizine. [Paediatr lndones. 2012;52:61-6].