When should the diagnosis 'contact urticaria' be used?
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Updated: Feb 22, 2026

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Published on: May 31, 2021
1Occupational Medicine, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, PO Box 40, 00251 Helsinki, Finland.
Abstract:
In the dermatological literature, the term 'contact urticaria syndrome' is often used with patients presenting no symptoms of contact urticaria, but symptoms of adjacent mucous membranes evolving to a systemic allergic reaction. Contact urticaria refers to a wheal and flare reaction following external contact with a causative substance. Its use should be restricted to skin: a skin reaction after direct skin contact.
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