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Is Diethylcarbamazine Citrate The Right Medicine For Cold In Children?
Question: My 16 months old son is getting infected with cold/cough/fever very easily and regularly. He got acute attack twice when he was 5 months old and 10 months old. My son took Montelukast LCD Kid regularly in this winter. I have allergy and need Levokast myself. The recent blood test reveals WBC total count of 12500 and Esonophils count of 12%. Doctor has prescribed Diethylcarbamazine Citrate - 50 mg. We searched and found that Diethylcarbamazine Citrate has severe side effects and my son too young and still cannot speak. Can we give him the prescribed Diethylcarbamazine Citrate (50 mg), please advice.
Brief Answer:
Check his absolute eosinophil counts
Detailed Answer:
Hi
I understand your concerns but don't worry. We do advise diethylcarbamazine citrate for cases with topical eosinophilia. But it's important to assess your child's absolute eosinophil counts (AEC) and total IgE levels. It will give a better idea about his allergy status. If they are high, then you may start him on diethylcarbamazine citrate at 6mg/kg/day in 3 divided doses. It's usually a safe drug in recommended dosages. In case your child show symptoms such as poor activity, lethargy, persistent vomiting, poor consciousness, etc at any time then you may hold it and visit your pediatrician for evaluation.
Hopefully it will be of help.
Take care
Check his absolute eosinophil counts
Detailed Answer:
Hi
I understand your concerns but don't worry. We do advise diethylcarbamazine citrate for cases with topical eosinophilia. But it's important to assess your child's absolute eosinophil counts (AEC) and total IgE levels. It will give a better idea about his allergy status. If they are high, then you may start him on diethylcarbamazine citrate at 6mg/kg/day in 3 divided doses. It's usually a safe drug in recommended dosages. In case your child show symptoms such as poor activity, lethargy, persistent vomiting, poor consciousness, etc at any time then you may hold it and visit your pediatrician for evaluation.
Hopefully it will be of help.
Take care
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Respected Dr. XXXXXXX
Thank you for your answer. I had uploaded the scanned version of the blood test report done on Feb 26, 2016 along with my question. Hope you found the report file. The eosinophil count is 12% and total WBC count is 12500. So, can we take it that his regular paediatrician has rightfully prescribed Benocide 50.
Best Regards,
XXXX
Thank you for your answer. I had uploaded the scanned version of the blood test report done on Feb 26, 2016 along with my question. Hope you found the report file. The eosinophil count is 12% and total WBC count is 12500. So, can we take it that his regular paediatrician has rightfully prescribed Benocide 50.
Best Regards,
XXXX
Brief Answer:
No need to worry
Detailed Answer:
Hi
The reports are fine with mild increase in eosinophils. WBC counts upto 15000/mm3 is normal in kids. He needs just symptomatic treatment in the form of antihistamines such as Montair Lc kid at present. But since the episodes are recurrent, so evaluation for total IgE and AEC will be useful to rule out allergic tendency. If increased, then starting Diethylcarbamazine citrate will be of value as mentioned earlier.
Take care
No need to worry
Detailed Answer:
Hi
The reports are fine with mild increase in eosinophils. WBC counts upto 15000/mm3 is normal in kids. He needs just symptomatic treatment in the form of antihistamines such as Montair Lc kid at present. But since the episodes are recurrent, so evaluation for total IgE and AEC will be useful to rule out allergic tendency. If increased, then starting Diethylcarbamazine citrate will be of value as mentioned earlier.
Take care
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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