title: Urticaria.
abstract: Urticaria with or without angioedema is frequently encountered in primary care medicine. Although many patients and physicians think that urticaria is evidence of an IgE-mediated allergic reaction, often the etiology of urticaria is unknown. This uncertainty frequently results in patients enduring unnecessary lifestyle changes or extensive testing. In more persistent cases, patients achieve control of their disease only with the use of more toxic medications, such as corticosteroids, and this can lead to a range of systemic complications. Acute urticaria is typically due to a hypersensitivity reaction while chronic urticaria has a more complex pathogenesis. Antihistamines remain the mainstay of symptomatic treatment for both.
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy and Immunology, National Jewish Medical and Research Center, The University of Colorado, 1400 Jackson Street, K1001, Denver, CO 80206, USA.
authors.forename: Sheila M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Amar
authors.forename: Stephen C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Dreskin
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014581:Urticaria / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists