Acute urticaria in the infant

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Dermatology
• Immunology

Background:

• Urticaria is a mast cell-mediated condition causing wheals or angioedema.
• Acute urticaria (AU) is defined as lasting less than 6 weeks.
• AU is uncommon in newborns and infants due to their functionally immature immune systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the clinical presentation of acute urticaria in newborns and infants.
• To highlight the importance of morphological examination for diagnosis.
• To outline appropriate treatment strategies for this population.

Main Methods:

• Clinical observation and morphological examination of skin lesions.
• Review of existing literature on pediatric urticaria.

Main Results:

• AU in neonates and infants often presents as generalized, large, annular, or geographic plaques.
• Lesion morphology is influenced by the unique structure of neonatal and infant skin.
• Accurate diagnosis requires careful differentiation from other dermatoses with similar features.

Conclusions:

• Morphological assessment is crucial for diagnosing AU in infants and newborns.
• Second-generation antihistamines are the recommended first-line treatment.
• Corticosteroids can be considered for severe cases, with emphasis on safety and efficacy in this age group.