ABSTRACT
In a prospective study a comparison has been made between the clinical efficacy and safety of cetirizine, a third generation H1 receptor antagonist with chlorpheniramine and cyprohepatadine, the most widely used antithistamines in the treatment of chronic idiopathic urticaria. One hundred and five patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria were studied where the effects of chlorpheniramine, 4 mg and cyproheptadine, 4 mg administered twice daily were compared with cetirizine, 10 mg given once daily for 4 weeks or earlier till the relief of symptoms and regression of lesions. Local therapy consisted of calamine lotion in all cases. Out of 35 patients receiving chlorpheniramine excellent response was achieved in 9 (25.7%) cases by subjective evaluation (SE) and 11 (31.4%) by objective evaluation (OE). Out of 35 cases, 7 (20%) and 10 (28.5%) cases treated with cyproheptadine have shown excellent response by SE and OE respectively. Out of 35 patients taking cetirizine 25 (71.4%) had shown excellent response by SE and 22 (62.8%) cases by OE. Drowsiness was an important side effect observed in 19 (54.2%) cases receiving chlorpheniramine, 22 (62.8%) patients taking cyproheptadine and 1 (2.8%) case getting cetirizine. These results suggest that cetirizine has got superior antiallergic activity than chlorpheniramine and cyproheptadine in the treatment of chronic idiopathic urticaria.
ABSTRACT
In a prospective study, 715 men in the age group 18-45 years with various sexually transmitted diseases (STD) from Jan 1993 to June 1996 were examined for presence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Majority (86%) were young adults in the age group of 21-35 years. Five hundred and fifty eight (78.04%) men were married and 157 (21.9%) were single. Majority men (87.3%) gave history of heterosexual exposures with female commercial sex workers. None had used condom during sexual intercourse. Out of 715, majority (30.9%) cases had chancroid. Blood samples were tested for HIV 1-2 antibodies during treatment and surveillance period by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) technique. Nine cases of STDs were positive for HIV 1-2 antibodies by ELISA test and 8 (1.1%) were confirmed by Western blot assay. All HIV seropositive men got infection from female commercial sex workers which were detected during their surveillance period. This study highlights the importance of screening of STD patients for HIV infection during treatment as well as surveillance period.
