Acute and Chronic Urticaria: Evaluation and Treatment

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Allergology
• Immunology

Background:

• Urticaria presents as pruritic wheals, affecting 20% of the population.
• It stems from mast cell and basophil release of histamine and inflammatory mediators.
• While often benign, it can cause chronic discomfort and rarely indicate systemic disease.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the diagnosis and management of urticaria.
• To outline treatment strategies for chronic and refractory cases.

Main Methods:

• Clinical diagnosis is key, ruling out anaphylaxis.
• Laboratory workup is limited unless specific conditions are suspected.
• Treatment involves trigger avoidance and pharmacotherapy.

Main Results:

• Chronic urticaria is idiopathic in 80-90% of cases.
• Second-generation H1 antihistamines are first-line treatment.
• Adjunctive therapies and specialist referrals (omalizumab, cyclosporine) are options for refractory cases.

Conclusions:

• Most chronic urticaria cases resolve or improve within a year.
• Effective management relies on identifying triggers and appropriate pharmacotherapy.
• Refractory cases benefit from specialized interventions.