Allergies and allergic manifestations are a major health problem in our country and around the world. Epidemiological data have reported an increased incidence of allergic diseases up to 10-30% over the past decades.
Aim: To evaluate the incidence of the most common allergic diseases treated with desloratadine or levocetirizine, second-generation antihistamines.
Material and methods: For diagnosis and assessment of treatment with the two antihistamines the following tests were performed: allergy skin testing, immunoglobulin E blood levels, evaluation of target organ for allergic reaction (lung function tests, nasal and conjunctival examination, assessment of bronchial inflammation).
Results: We conducted a retrospective study that included 365 patients (64% women and 36% men) diagnosed with different types of allergy in the "Atopia" Allergology Medical Center at Iaşi during the interval August 2012-August 2013. Patients were aged 2 to 90 years (mean age group 35.98 years; 39.55 years for women, and 29.74 years for men).
Conclusions: The majority of patients were from urban areas (82%). The most common allergic diseases in the study group were: urticaria (21%), allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (14%), allergic bronchitis (14%) and allergic asthma (12%).