Are the 2014 –2016 Zika and Chikungunya epidemics in Colombia associated with a higher use of antihistamines?

Concomitant circulation and epidemic peaks of the Zika (ZIKV), Chikungunya (CHIKV) and Dengue (DENV) viruses have been identified as public health problems in Latin America and the Caribbean [1]. The cutaneous manifestations of these arboviruses are reported for ZIKV as a nonspecific and diffuse rash consisting of macules and papules that appear 3 –12 days after initial infection, and the eruption may be pruritic [2,3]. Due to the relative frequency of these manifestations and the availability of antihistamines for the symptomatic management of pruritus and other dermatological reactions, it was proposed to study the frequency of prescripti on and dispensing of antihistamines between 2014 and 2016, when the epidemiological peaks of infection by ZIKV and CHIKV occurred in Colombia.
Source: Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease - Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Source Type: research