A clinical study comparing the efficacy and tolerability of two gel preparations containing active substances benzydamine hydrochloride (Tantum gel) and dimethindene maleate (Fenistil gel) in the treatment of symptoms of skin reaction to mosquito bites was conducted at our clinic in spring 2002. Sixty healthy volunteers took part in the study. First, they exposed both forearms under standard conditions to the mosquito bites (Aedes egypti mosquito species), and then treated each forearm with a different gel, so they acted as their own controls. Evaluated was the extent of bite reaction, reduced by the effect of applied gel preparation. The aim was to prove the efficacy of atypical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) benzydamine hydrochloride in the treatment of symptoms of the skin reaction to mosquito bites, by comparing it with the efficacy of already established antihistaminic dimethinden maleate. It was proven that the reaction developments after treatment with either product and thus effects of the products on reduction of the reaction are comparable within the interval of ± 35%. That confirms the theoretical assumptions about the efficacy of atypical NSAID benzydamine HCl in reduction of insect bite reaction.

        Key words: inflammation – benzydamine hydrochloride – dimethindene maleate