Histamine in nasal secretions and serum may be elevated during viral respiratory tract infections.

This study investigated histamine concentration in nasal secretions from children who had viral respiratory tract infection. It demonstrated that (1) there may be appreciable histamine in nasal secretions during viral respiratory tract infection; (2) concentration of histamine in serum may be elevated at the same time; and (3) children with past medical or family history of atopy had more histamine in nasal secretions during viral infections than did nonatopic children.