Urticaria in children

The etiologic factors responsible for urticaria were analyzed in 44 children seen in the Urticaria Clinic, a referral center of the Dermatology Department. Of these, 23 were girls and 21 boys. Nine (20.5%) had acute urticaria and 25 (79.5%) were diagnosed as having chronic urticaria. A definitive etiology factor was identified in 18 (40%) patients. Of these, 15 had physical urticarias; in 2 foods and in 1 drug was incriminated. Probable etiologic factors were identified in 19 (43%) patients, in 5 (11.3%) of whom more than one factor was identified. In 11 (25%) children, it was not possible to establish the cause. Our study suggests that etiologic factors of urticaria are more readily identifiable in children than in adults.