[Prevalence and potential triggering factors of chronic urticaria and angioedema in an urban area of northeastern Mexico].
BACKGROUND
Urticaria and angioedema are illnesses of easy diagnosis, but to solve them or to determine their cause is complex, as well as the therapeutic management of chronic cases.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence, possible precipitating factors and chronic urticaria characteristics.


METHODS
A questionnaire was applied to 4,000 persons selected at random, from the ages of 18-50 years, women and men. We made up simple frequencies, odds ratio, confidence interval at 95%. Possible interventions from the some variables were determined through regression logistic model.


RESULTS
Chronic urticaria and angioedema prevalence was 4.8%. From the 147 sick persons, 71.4% were women (p = 0.00) 51.70% had only wheals, 10.88% angioedema alone and 37.41% of the patients with chronic urticaria also have angioedema. Potential triggering factors that we found were 18.36% drugs (p = 0.00) and 4.08% foods (p = 0.00). Family (p = 0.00) and personal allergy (p = 0.00) antecedents were documented in 55.8% and 68.70%, respectively. In 40.1% symptoms interfere with daily activities of the patients and 53.1% of patients had symptoms at night.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite of being a retrospective study, the results show us that the chronic urticaria and angioedema are important health problems in the northeastern of Mexico. We can not identify the etiology, and the symptoms can disturb quality of life of the patients. Female sex, family and personal allergy antecedent could be important for these pathology presentations.
Vázquez Nava
Francisco
F
Unidad de Investigación Médica en Epidemiología Clinica, Hospital General Regional núm. 6, IMSS, Tampico, Tamaulipas, México. fvazqueznava@yahoo.com.mx
Almeida Arvizu
Víctor Manuel
VM
Sánchez Nuncio
Héctor Rafael
HR
Villanueva Carreto
María de los Angeles
Mde L
Guidos Fogelbach
Guillermo Arturo
GA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000799:Angioedema / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population; D014581:Urticaria / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology
D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents