Kids Research Express

Astemizole, antihistamine drug that is used to treat hay fever and recurring hives . It works by blocking the action of histamine (a chemical released by the body during allergic reactions) that contributes to swelling and itching of the nose, eyes, and skin. Astemizole is available only by prescription. It comes in tablet form and is taken orally on an empty stomach (one hour before or two hours after a meal). The typical dosage for adults and children over age 12 is 10 mg once a day. It has not been proven safe for children under age 12. The drug starts to be effective within one hour of treatment. Astemizole is often prescribed for use over several weeks. It helps control the appearance of hives and hay fever symptoms but does not provide immediate relief. Patients should not take more than a single, prescribed dose—even if symptoms are severe or a dose was missed—because overdose reactions are severe and may include fainting, irregular heartbeat, seizures, or cardiac arrest. Pos

Fexofenadine, prescription drug used primarily to treat hay fever , also effective against hives and cold symptoms. As an antihistamine, fexofenadine works by blocking the action of histamine, a chemical released during allergic reactions that contributes to swelling and itching of mucous membranes in the nose, eyes, and throat. Tablets of fexofenadine are taken orally, preferably with food to avoid stomach irritation. The typical dose is 60 mg taken twice a day. Effectiveness is usually apparent within one hour. Fexofenadine should be used with caution in patients with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, increased intraocular pressure, hyperthyroidism, renal impairment, or prostatic hypertrophy. This drug should not be used by breast-feeding women or children under the age of 12. Its safety for use during pregnancy has not been determined. Possible side effects include headache, insomnia, cold or flu, nausea, fatigue, indigestion, and menstrual pain. Unlike many

Beclomethasone Dipropionate, steroid drug used to treat breathing problems associated with such disorders as hay fever and asthma . It is especially effective following the surgical removal of polyps (tumorous cell masses) in the nose. Beclomethasone dipropionate works by keeping open the bronchial tubes that lead into the lungs and by reducing inflammation in the tissues of the respiratory tract. This drug is available by prescription as a nasal spray or as an oral inhalant. It is usually prescribed for adults in doses of two oral inhalations—or one to two nasal sprays—up to four times a day. More severe conditions may require heavier dosages, although the inhalant form should not be used more than 20 times in one day. Children six years old and older can use this drug, although prescribed dosages are usually smaller with ten inhalations per day as the maximum. The drug may take effect within three days but may take as long as two weeks after beginning treatment. Unlike many inhalan

Hay Fever, form of seasonal rhinitis caused by allergy to pollens. Its symptoms are intense seizures of sneezing; inflammation of nose and eye membranes; and wheezing. Hay fever occurs annually at the same season. It is a reaction to inhalation of airborne pollens to which an individual is sensitive. Persons with a family history of hay fever may inherit a tendency to react, not to specific allergens, but to those to which they are exposed. A doctor may determine the sensitizing agent or agents by scratching the skin of the patient and applying various pollens. The pollens to which the patient is allergic will produce a wheal-and-flare reaction. Because hay fever involves an antigen-antibody reaction in which histamine in the body is released and irritates blood vessels and glands, some anti-histaminic agents may furnish relief. Long-term therapy involves a series of injections of pollen extracts before the pollen season begins; repeated annually, these relieve 75 percent of cases. Tr

Common Cold, acute infectious disease of the upper respiratory tract, caused by more than 100 kinds of viruses. The infection affects the mucous membranes of the nose and throat, causing such symptoms as nasal congestion and discharge, sore throat, and coughing. These symptoms are typical also of respiratory infections caused by bacteria, and of allergic conditions such as hay fever and asthma ; therefore, the common cold is difficult to diagnose with certainty. Normally it runs a mild course, without fever, and subsides spontaneously in about seven days. Its medical significance lies in the possible complications that may ensue. Various diseases, such as bronchitis, pneumonia, and sinus or middle-ear infections, may arise from the cold. Research indicates that there are several strains of each type of virus with varying degrees of virulence. Infection with one strain confers only a brief immunity to reinfection by the same strain, and gives no immunity against the other strains. In 1

Antihistamine is any drug that blocks the action of histamine . Antihistamines are used primarily to control symptoms of allergic conditions such as hay fever . They alleviate runny nose and sneezing and, to a lesser extent, minimize conjunctivitis and breathing difficulties. Antihistamines can also alleviate itching and rash caused by food allergy. Chemically, antihistamines comprise several classes, and a person who does not obtain relief from one type may benefit from another. Side effects of these drugs can include drowsiness, loss of concentration, and dizziness. People taking antihistamines should not drink alcoholic beverages or perform tasks requiring mental alertness, such as driving. A few antihistamines, such as terfenadine and astemizole, are nonsedating. Although antihistamines are included in many over-the-counter cold remedies, their usefulness in such preparations is questionable. Antihistamines may relieve symptoms of allergy accompanying a cold, or they may have an

Barbiturate, any of an important group of drugs that depress brain function; they are derived from barbituric acid (C4H4N2O3), a combination of urea and malonic acid. Depending on the dosage or formulation, barbiturates have a sedative (tranquilizing), hypnotic (sleep-inducing), anticonvulsant, or anesthetic effect. Very short-acting barbiturates such as thiopental are injected intravenously to induce rapid anesthesia before surgery. Phenobarbital, a long-acting barbiturate, is prescribed with other medications to prevent epileptic seizures. Other barbituric-acid derivatives, such as secobarbital, were used as antianxiety medications until the development of the tranquilizer ; they are still in use for the short-term treatment of insomnia, although tranquilizers are more suitable sleep inducers. Barbiturates are common drugs of abuse. Taken orally or intravenously, they produce symptoms similar to drunkenness: loss of inhibition, boisterous or violent behavior, muscle incoordination, d