The evaluation of patients with urticaria

Not only is urticaria a condition of disparate cause, but it also may be produced through the action of one or more of a long list of chemical mediators. This article discusses some of the accepted procedures in the evaluation of patients with urticaria, which includes not only categorization but also a search for the sources of aggravation and laboratory testing to confirm the clinical diagnosis. An example of a printed history form is included, which comprises questions that hopefully will help to identify aggravating factors as well as potential causes.