Dermographometer assessment in children with urticaria

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Dermatology
• Allergy and Immunology
• Urticaria Research

Background:

• Symptomatic dermographism (SD) is the most common subtype of chronic inducible urticaria.
• Its prevalence and clinical relevance in pediatric urticaria are not well-understood.
• Objective assessment of SD and its impact on pediatric urticaria activity is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of symptomatic dermographism in children with acute or chronic urticaria.
• To investigate the relationship between SD and disease activity and control in pediatric patients.
• To evaluate the utility of objective dermographometer testing in assessing pediatric urticaria.

Main Methods:

• Prospective observational study of 144 children (aged 1-18 years) with urticaria.
• Dermographometer testing (FricTest® 4.0) at baseline and 6 weeks.
• Disease activity assessed via Urticaria Activity Score (UAS7) and Urticaria Control Test (UCT).

Main Results:

• Symptomatic dermographism identified in 24.3% of pediatric urticaria patients.
• SD was associated with older age and triggers like skin stroking or scratching.
• Dermographometer wheal diameter correlated with UAS7; lower thresholds indicated higher disease activity.
• Children with SD showed less improvement in disease control at 6 weeks.

Conclusions:

• Symptomatic dermographism is prevalent in pediatric urticaria.
• SD is associated with increased disease activity and poorer short-term control.
• Objective dermographometer testing can complement patient-reported outcomes in pediatric urticaria assessment.