Chronic rhinitis in the pre-school child.

The etiologic role of atopy in chronic rhinitis in 40 infants and pre-school children was investigated and the long-term effectiveness and safety of promethazine studied during six to 48 months. Twenty children were clearly atopic and 16 were not. Four had incomplete laboratory evidence of atopy. In addition to clinical histories and physical findings, the subjects were evaluated by skin tests for common allergens. RAST tests, total IgE levels and absolute eosinophil counts. Promethazine in doses of 3 to 12 mg/kg/day (mean 8 mg) was administered in divided doses, four times a day for perennial rhinitis and on "as required" basis for recurrent and seasonal rhinitis. Side effects included drowsiness and irritability, which led to discontinuance of promethazine in one subject. There was no laboratory evidence of hematologic, renal or hepatic abnormalities. Promethazine was found to be an effective agent for symptom-control of chronic rhinitis in the pre-school child.