Join Now | Sign in

Antihistamines Health Article

Media Gallery

Videos (1)

The Right Treatment for Your Allergies

play video

read transcript

Marketplace

Licensed from

Page: < Back 1 2

Parental concerns

For children who resist taking pills, many antihistamines are available as flavored chewable tablets, tablets that easily dissolve on the tongue, and in flavored syrups. Because many over-the-counter allergy medicines contain multiple drugs, parents should be sure to read the prescribing and dosage information for any antihistamine their children are taking to ensure safe use.

KEY TERMS

Allergen—A foreign substance that provokes an immune reaction or allergic response in some sensitive people but not in most others.

Anaphylaxis—Also called anaphylactic shock; a severe allergic reaction characterized by airway constriction, tissue swelling, and lowered blood pressure.

Histamine—A substance released by immune system cells in response to the presence of an allergen. It stimulates widening of blood vessels and increased porousness of blood vessel walls so that fluid and protein leak out from the blood into the surrounding tissue, causing localised inflammation of the tissue.

Mast cells—A type of immune system cell that is found in the lining of the nasal passages and eyelids. It displays a type of antibody called immunoglobulin type E (IgE) on its cell surface and participates in the allergic response by releasing histamine from intracellular granules.

BOOKS

Simms, F. Estelle. Histamine and H1-Antihistamines in Allergic Disease. New York: Marcel Dekker Incorporated, 2002.

Taylor, R., J. Krohn, and E. M. Larson. Allergy Relief and Prevention, 3rd ed. Vancouver: Hartley and Marks, 2000.

ORGANIZATIONS

Allergy and Asthma Network: Mothers of Asthmatics. 2751 Prosperity Ave., Suite 150, Fairfax, VA 22031. Web site: <www.aanma.org>.

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. 611 East Wells St., Milwaukee, WI 53202. Web site: <www.aaaai.org>.

WEB SITES

"All about Allergies." Nemours Foundation. Available online at <www.kidshealth.org/parent/medical/allergies/allergy.html> (accessed October 24, 2004).

Jennifer E. Sisk, MA

Page: < Back 1 2