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Acute urticaria in children

Shih-Wen Huang1

  • 1Division of Pulmonology/Allergy, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, USA. huangsw@peds.ufl.edu

Pediatrics and Neonatology
|July 8, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Acute urticaria is a common pediatric emergency. This review discusses its presentation and management in children, highlighting key considerations for emergency department care.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Emergency Medicine
  • Dermatology
  • Allergy and Immunology

Background:

  • Urticaria, commonly known as hives, is a frequent dermatological condition in children.
  • Acute urticaria presents a diagnostic and management challenge in pediatric emergency settings.
  • The article by Liu et al. in Pediatrics and Neonatology serves as a basis for this review.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a comprehensive review of acute urticaria in the pediatric population.
  • To discuss the clinical presentation, differential diagnosis, and management strategies for pediatric urticaria.
  • To emphasize the importance of recognizing and appropriately treating acute urticaria in emergency departments.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of pediatric urticaria management.
  • Analysis of clinical presentation and common etiologies.
  • Discussion of evidence-based treatment guidelines.

Main Results:

  • Acute urticaria in children is often idiopathic but can be triggered by infections or allergens.
  • Antihistamines are the mainstay of treatment, with corticosteroids sometimes indicated.
  • Most cases resolve within 24-48 hours, but recurrent episodes require further investigation.

Conclusions:

  • Prompt recognition and appropriate management of acute urticaria are crucial in pediatric emergency care.
  • Understanding the common causes and effective treatments can improve patient outcomes.
  • Further research into the long-term management of recurrent urticaria in children is warranted.

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