Rebecca Araujo

Urban Health Today

First-generation antihistamines were associated with an increased risk of seizures in children, according to a study in JAMA Network Open.This cohort study used the National Health Insurance Service database in Korea to assess rates of emergency department admissions for pediatric seizures between January 2, 2002, and December 31, 2005. The researchers defined days 1-15 before seizure as the &ldquo;hazard period,&rdquo; days 31-45 as control period 1, and days 61-75 as control period 2.In total, 11,729 children had a seizure event. Of them, 3,178 were prescribed antihistamines during either the hazard or control periods, but not both. Seizures were predominantly observed in children aged 6 to 24 months (31.0%) and 25 months to 6 years (45.5%).During the hazard period, 1,476 first-generation antihistamines were prescribed, compared with 1,239 and 1,278 prescriptions during control periods 1 and 2, respectively. After adjustment for confounding factors, prescriptions of first-generation antihistamines were associated with an increased risk of seizure during the hazard period (odds ratio [OR], 1.22; 95% CI, 1.13&ndash;1.31).The risk was also higher in children aged 6 to 24 months (OR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.31-1.70) compared with children 25 months or older (P=.04). &nbsp;A sensitivity analysis was conducted that considered exposure window, comparisons of control points a year prior to the study period, and individuals using combination drugs; this analysis confirmed the higher risk associated with first-generation antihistamines.&ldquo;In this cohort study, prescriptions for first-generation antihistamines were associated with a 22.0% higher seizure risk in children, especially in those aged 6 to 24 months,&rdquo; the authors summarized. &ldquo;These findings emphasize the need for careful and judicious prescription of first-generation antihistamines in young children and underline the need for further research to elucidate associations between antihistamine prescriptions and seizure risk.&rdquo;Source: <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">JAMA Network Open</a>

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First-Generation Antihistamines Linked to Higher Risk of Seizure in Young Children

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The risk of seizure was higher in children aged 6 to 24 months. 

First-Generation Antihistamines Linked to Higher Risk of Seizure in Young Children 

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