[Diagnosis and treatment of urticaria and angioedema]

Current concepts on the diagnosis and treatment of urticaria and angioedema concerning allergic, non-allergic, idiopathic and symptomatic aetiology of this very complex disease were discussed. Much attention was paid to the necessity of multidrug therapy in which antihistamines play the most important role in chronic forms of the disease. The possibility of occurrence of life-threatening conditions was emphasised and the rules of their treatment and early prevention of intensification of symptoms typical of anaphylaxis.