Clinical effectiveness of 6 months cetirizine administration to prevent atopic dermatitis recurrence in children: A randomized trial

Background: Oral H1-antihistamines have been used extensively to reduce itching in atopic dermatitis (AD) but its effectiveness remains controversial. Cetirizine is a second-generation H1-antihistamine used in allergic diseases, including itching associated with AD. The Aim of this study: To assess the effectiveness of cetirizine compared with placebo in the treatment of AD. Material and Methods: A trial on 38 children aged 6 months to 15 years with moderate AD. Subject was recruited by consecutive sampling to achieve the required number of subjects, then randomization blocks to specify the group. The treatment group received cetirizine (0.25 milligrams/kg twice daily for patients < 2 years of age for 6 months and once a day for patients > 2 years old), while the control group received a placebo. The severity of the AD in both groups was measured by SCORAD index and AD recurrence evaluated every month for 6 months using per protocol analysis. Results: During the 6-month treatment, AD severity decreased to zero in both groups (p = 0.200). AD recurrence in the treatment group was not significantly lower than the control group (2 of 17 subjects vs 2 of 14 subjects, p = 1.000). Conclusions: Treatment of cetirizine for 6 months does not improve the recurrence and severity of AD in children.