Allergic rhinitis medicines and children

Children with allergic rhinitis have the same treatment options as adults. They should avoid substances that trigger their allergies (allergens), and they usually need to use medicine to control symptoms. Your child may also get allergy shots.

But the type of medicines you use to treat your child may be different because of possible side effects.

Over-the-counter antihistamines

• Pill antihistamines, such as triprolidine (Actifed), diphenhydramine (Benadryl), and loratadine (Claritin) are the first choice when treating children who have allergic rhinitis.
• Triprolidine and diphenhydramine can make your child sleepy. Loratadine does not.
• Not all children can use these medicines. Always talk with your doctor and check the product label for what ages can use the product and how much to give your child. Children as young as age 2 or 3 may be able to use loratadine.

Prescription antihistamines

• Most of the newer prescription antihistamines do not make children sleepy.
• Your child will not have to take newer antihistamines as often as the older ones.
• Certain prescription medicines, such as cetirizine (Zyrtec), are available in liquid form. Children as young as age 2 or 3 can use them.
• Children can use desloratadine (Clarinex). The age at which your child can use it depends on how often your child has the allergy. Your child may be able to use it as early as age 6 months. It may be available as a pill, a liquid, and a Reditab, a tablet that dissolves on the tongue.
• Not all children can use these medicines. Always talk with your doctor and check the product label for what ages can use the product and how much to give your child.

Because being sleepy and other side effects from antihistamines can affect a child's performance in school, many doctors suggest that school-age children use newer prescription antihistamines that do not cause drowsiness.

Corticosteroids

Nasal corticosteroids are the most effective medicine for treating allergic rhinitis in children. These medicines relieve the symptoms of nasal congestion, runny nose, itching, and sneezing better than decongestants, antihistamines, and cromolyn sodium. To treat symptoms that affect your child's eyes, you can combine an antihistamine with a nasal corticosteroid. Examples of nasal corticosteroids include fluticasone propionate (Flonase), flunisolide (Nasarel), and budesonide (Rhinocort).

Not all children can use these medicines. Always talk with your doctor and check the product label for what ages can use the product and how much to give your child.

There has been some concern that nasal corticosteroids may cause side effects in children, such as growth delay and behavioral disturbances. At the recommended doses, nasal corticosteroid sprays have not been shown to produce serious side effects. But because of possible side effects, talk with your doctor about whether corticosteroids are right for your child, and if so, which ones to use.

Side effects that may occur with nasal corticosteroids may include:

• A burning sensation in the nose after spraying.
• Mild nosebleeds.
• Headache.
• Sore throat.
• Dry nose.

See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)