title: Childhood urticaria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present article reviews childhood urticaria. It provides an update on the current understanding of its pathophysiology and highlights the current practice in the management of this condition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Progress has been made in understanding the pathophysiology of urticaria with the elucidation of an autoimmune basis in a significant proportion of children with chronic spontaneous urticaria. H1-antihistamines remain the mainstay of therapy, but there is increasing awareness on the risks of sedating first-generation antihistamines. Omalizumab is increasingly being used off-license in the most refractory cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Urticaria is a common disease that affects children and adults. However, paediatric urticaria has specific features and remains poorly understood. Acute spontaneous urticaria is the most common clinical presentation in childhood. It is caused by viral infection in most cases with an identifiable trigger. By contrast, chronic spontaneous urticaria in children may be autoimmune, but more studies are needed to understand the clinical significance of functional autoantibodies in this subgroup of patients. Investigations should always be guided by history. Treatment remains largely symptomatic. H1-antihistamines are the mainstay of therapy but are insufficient to control symptoms in all patients. There is an urgent need for more efficacious therapies.
authors: Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Norwich, UK.
authors: Nadine
authors: N
authors: Marrouche
authors: Clive
authors: C
authors: Grattan
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D000069444:Omalizumab; D014581:Urticaria / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D001323:Autoantibodies; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D000069444:Omalizumab