Clinico-etiological study with response to specific treatment in childhood urticaria

BACKGROUND: Urticaria is a common dermatological manifestation in adults with relatively infrequent occurrence of chronic urticaria (CU) in childhood. The etiology of urticaria in childhood remains incompletely understood because of limited data on children. OBJECTIVE: We carried out this retrospective data-based study to determine different etiological factors and response to treatment in pediatric patients presenting with urticaria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty children (M : F 49 : 31) between the ages of 1 and 14 years, who presented with urticaria excluding patients of physical urticaria attending the Outpatient Department of Pediatrics and Dermatology were included in the study. Patients were evaluated after taking a detailed history, doing a thorough physical examination, and basic laboratory investigations. Specific in vivo and in vitro tests were performed after the initial evaluation and consent of patients. RESULTS: Out of eighty patients, 35 (43.75%) presented with acute urticaria and 45 (56.25%) gave a history of chronic urticaria.CU. An underlying cause was suspected in 53 cases (66.25%), although a definite association with response to a specific treatment was correlated in 30 (37.5%). Infection was the most common underlying causative factor. Underlying thyroid dysfunction was observed in 12 patients, of whom two had thyroid anti peroxidase antibodies. Autologous serum skin test was positive in 17 patients. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study infections were the most common etiological factor for urticaria in children.