The role of ketotifen in children with recurrent bronchitis.

The efficacy and safety of ketotifen in the treatment of recurrent bronchitis were studied in twenty Thai children with an average age of 5.3 years. Symptoms studied were cough, hypersecretion and wheezing and 4-point rating scores were assigned to each of the symptoms with regard to their frequency, severity and duration. Score per dose of the symptomatic agents used was also given. The symptoms and the use of symptomatic agents were recorded during a full year prior to ketotifen treatment and during a further full year study period. PEFR measurement was performed in the children above the age of 6 years at 2-weekly intervals under the supervision of the authors at the clinic. Assessment of efficacy was done by comparing monthly symptom scores and medication scores during the study period with the mean value of the previous year. Thirteen children received ketotifen for the whole year while seven children who were almost symptom-free after 4 months ketotifen treatment, were then only observed for a further 8 months. At the end of the study period, ketotifen treatment was rated very good and good in 85% of children, satisfactory in 10% and poor in 5%. Drowsiness was the only side-effect reported in a few cases but then only initially. There were no abnormalities in any laboratory parameters studied.