Λεξικό .. Antihistamines and Learning Performances in Children

The prevalence of Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis (SAR) among primary school children is generally estimated at between 15 and 21%. SAR is responsible for more time lost from school than any other single chronic disease. In the United States it accounts for the loss of 1.5 million school days per year. Most children attend school while suffering from SAR symptoms and receiving treatment with antihistamine drugs, but most of the antihistamines used by children are sedating antihistamines. (The newer, nonsedating antihistamines are not registered for the indication of childhood allergy in many countries). A question arises whether allergic children attending school experience learning deficits associated with SAR per se and/or sedative antihistamines.

Recently this question was addressed in an experimental paradigm resembling the traditional classroom learning situation. Separate groups of children (10-12 years) suffering from SAR were treated with loratadine, diphenhydramine and placebo. They, along with a matched group of normal controls, were given day-long instruction concenring the principles of a complex didactic computer simulation. After a two week delay, all children returned to the "classroom" to undergo written and practical examinations for measuring learning retention. Though asymptomatic, all allergic groups performed significantly worse on all tests than the normal controls. The allergic group treated with diphenhydramine performed significantly worse than those treated with placebo. The performances of groups treated with loratadine and placebo did not differ significantly. Conclusion: Loratadine may not reverse the SAR learning deficit, but unlike diphenhydramine, it does not worsen it.

References

O'Hanlon, J.F.: Allergies, Antihistamines and Learning Performances in children. Satellite Symposium: Management of the Allergic Child and Adolescent. Schering-Plough Int. XVth Congress of the EAACI, Paris, May 12, 1992.