Related Experiment Videos
[Epidemiology of urticaria in infants]
V Legrain1, A Taieb, J Maleville
1Service de Dermatologie, Hôpital des Enfants, Bordeaux, France.
Insights
Infantile urticaria is poorly understood, but this study found cow milk protein intolerance, drugs, and infections are common causes in infants. Further research is needed to understand childhood hives.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Dermatology
- Allergy and Immunology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Childhood urticaria, particularly in infants, lacks sufficient research.
- Understanding the epidemiology and etiology of infantile urticaria is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the factors contributing to urticaria in infants.
- To clarify the clinical presentation and common causes of infantile urticaria.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 40 hospitalized infants diagnosed with urticaria.
- Evaluation of clinical signs and suspected etiological factors.
Main Results:
- Acute urticaria was the most frequent presentation.
- Bruised appearance of lesions was a notable clinical sign in this age group.
- Confirmed or suspected etiologies included cow milk protein intolerance (infants <6 months), drugs, and infections (infants >6 months), identified in two-thirds of cases.
Conclusions:
- Cow milk protein intolerance, infections, and drug reactions are significant causes of infantile urticaria.
- Specific clinical signs may be more prevalent in infants.
- Prospective studies are essential to further elucidate infantile urticaria.
Abstract:
Epidemiology of childhood urticaria and especially that of infants is badly understood because of a lack of studies devoted to this age group. A retrospective study of 40 infants that were hospitalised for urticaria has been made to clarify the factors that produce urticaria at that age. Certain clinical signs seem to be more frequent at this age, such as the bruised appearance of the lesions. Acute urticaria is the most frequent form. An etiology has been confirmed or suspected in 2/3 cases: intolerance of cow milk proteins before 6 months, drug and infection causes after 6 months. Prospective studies of infantile urticaria are necessary.