A Study To Compare The Efficacy and Safety of Oral Bilastine V/S Oral Levocetrizine in Patients of Allergic Rhinitis

Introduction “Rhinitis is defined clinically as having two or more symptoms of anterior or posterior rhinorrhoea, sneezing, nasal blockage and/or itching of the nose during two or more consecutive days for more than one hour on most days”.1 When airborne allergens are inhaled, they cause inflammation in the nasal mucosal lining, leading to allergic rhinitis (AR), a common prevalent condition affecting a significant portion of the global population (0.8-39.7%).2 AR is subdivided into following types:3 1. Based on timing- · Intermittent Allergic Rhinitis (IAR) disease · Persistent Allergic Rhinitis (PER) disease 2. Based on severity- · Mild · Moderate to severe The management of AR advocates the allergen avoidance and use of pharmaco- and immune-therapy. As per Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) guidelines,4 “the preferred first-line treatment for Allergic Rhinitis (AR) is second-generation H1-antihistamines, which selectively block histamine H1 receptors and reduce symptoms with minimal sedation.” Among these, Levocetirizine, the R-enantiomer of cetirizine, is a potent, highly selective second-generation H1-antihistamine with a rapid onset of action. It exhibits high H1-receptor affinity, which contributes to its effectiveness in alleviating sneezing, nasal congestion, and rhinorrhea. Levocetirizine demonstrates anti-inflammatory properties, inhibiting eosinophil migration and reducing the late-phase allergic response.5