Abstract

Objectives: The aims of this study were to prospectively evaluate the effectiveness of oral epinastine hydrochloride in pediatric outpatients with Sleep-Disordered Breathing- (SDB) related symptoms caused by hyperesthetic non-infectious rhinitis, and to assess their Quality of Life (QOL) prior to and following treatment.

Study design: Prospective

Methods: Pediatric outpatients (9 boys and 10 girls; average age, 5.6 years [SD=1.4]), with SDB related symptoms influenced by hyperesthetic non-infectious rhinitis were recruited. The children were all treated with oral epinastine hydrochloride dry syrup for 4 weeks. Before and after the 4-week treatment period, the following data were collected from each participant: otolaryngological findings, obstructive sleep apnea-18 (OSA-18) scores, and evaluation of QOL.

Results: Epinastine hydrochloride significantly improved the swelling of the inferior nasal turbinate mucosa and decreased the quantity of nasal discharge. The initial total mean OSA-18 score was 58.5, whereas the total score reduced to 22.8 after oral epinastine hydrochloride treatment. Significant (p < 0.01) differences were found between pre- and post-treatment total OSA-18 scores as well as pre- and post-treatment measurements of domains of sleep disturbance, physical symptoms, and caregiver concerns.

Conclusions: Epinastine hydrochloride therapy may improve nasal findings and QOL in pediatric outpatients with SDB related symptoms caused by hyperesthetic non-infectious rhinitis.

Keywords: Epinastine hydrochloride, Pediatrics, Hyperesthetic noninfectious rhinitis, Allergic rhinitis, Sleep-disordered breathing, OSA- 18