Prevalence of cholinergic urticaria in young adults.
BACKGROUND
Cholinergic urticaria is primarily seen in young adults, but little is known about its prevalence.


OBJECTIVE
A prospective study was designed to investigate the frequency and severity of cholinergic urticaria in this age group.


METHODS
Four hundred ninety-three high school and university students (15 to 35 years of age) were examined for cholinergic urticaria by means of a questionnaire and partly by exercise provocation tests.


RESULTS
The overall prevalence of cholinergic whealing was 11.2%, with most of the affected persons being older than 20 years. The highest prevalence was observed in the age group of 26 to 28 years (20%). Apart from a small group of severely afflicted persons with systemic symptoms (11%), reactions were mostly mild and restricted to fleeting, pinpoint-size wheals (76%). Eighty percent of affected subjects were not troubled by their condition, and only 22% had ever sought medical attention.


CONCLUSIONS
The study shows a high prevalence of cholinergic urticaria, but the condition is mostly mild.
Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Rudolf Virchow, Free University Berlin, Germany.
T
T
Zuberbier
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C
Althaus
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S
Chantraine-Hess
B M
BM
Czarnetzki
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013546:Sweating / Q000502:physiology; D014110:Touch; D014581:Urticaria / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology