A CLINICAL STUDY OF URTICARIA AND ANGIOEDEMA WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THE ETIOLOGY

Abstract

Introduction: Urticaria is one of the most distressing, frustrating and challenging dermatological condition for both patients and doctors as well. The aim of present study is to find out causes of urticaria, age and sex distribution and association with atopy and other systemic diseases.

Methods: The prospective study of 500 cases of urticaria was carried out in Skin V D department from June 1995 to May 2010. All the cases having wheals and or angioedema were included in the study. Detailed clinical history was taken to find out etiology and aggravating factors.

Results: In our study maximum numbers of cases Maximum numbers of cases (127) belonged to the age groups 21 to 30 and 31 to 40 years. The youngest was eight months old and the oldest was 85 years of age. Females (307) outnumbered males (193) in the present study. Food induced urticaria was found in 136(27.2%), due to drugs in 128(25.6%), physical urticaria in 83(16.6%), infestation as a cause of urticaria in 14(2.8%), infection in 16(3.2%), dust in 07(1.2%), atopy in 03(0.86) endocrine disease in 03(0.6%) including thyroid disorder in 1(0.2%),contact with wool in 01(0.29%) and carcinoma in 01(0.2%). In 133(26.6%) patients we were not able to find the cause and those where labeled as idiopathic urticaria.

Conclusion: That there is little relation between cause identified by history and confirmation by investigation. Routine laboratory tests are of limited value in finding the etiology. History taking is most important tool.