Cetirizine use in childhood: an update of a friendly 30-year drug

• Review
• Open Access

Clinical and Molecular Allergy

• Giuseppe Fabio Parisi, 
• Salvatore Leonardi, 
• Giorgio Ciprandi, 
• Angelo Corsico, 
• Amelia Licari, 
• Michele Miraglia del Giudice, 
• Diego Peroni, 
• Carmelo Salpietro & 
• Gian Luigi Marseglia 

Clinical and Molecular Allergy volume 18, Article number: 2 (2020) 

• details

Abstract

Cetirizine is a second-generation antihistamine, derived from the metabolism of hydroxyzine, highly specific for the H1 receptors, and with marked antiallergic properties. Although its history began more than 30 years ago, it remains one of the most used drugs in children with a leading role in the medical care of children with allergic diseases. Cetirizine use is licensed for paediatric patients for the treatment of allergic rhinitis, and chronic spontaneous urticaria, in Europe in children older than 2 years old and in the USA in children older than 6 months old. This review provides a practical update on the use of cetirizine in children and adolescents.

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