title: Anaphylaxis and urticaria.
abstract: Anaphylaxis and urticaria are common presenting allergic complaints. Affecting up to 2% of the population, anaphylaxis is a serious, life-threatening allergic reaction. Although not life-threatening, urticaria is a rash of transient, erythematous, pruritic wheals that can be bothersome and affects up to 25% of the population. All cases of anaphylaxis warrant thorough clinical evaluation by the allergist-immunologist, although most cases of urticaria are self-limited and do not require specialist referral. This article offers an overview of our current knowledge on the epidemiology, pathogenesis, triggers, diagnosis, and treatment of anaphylaxis and urticaria.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
authors.forename: Kelli W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy and Immunology, Children's National Medical Center, Children's National Health System, 111 Michigan Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20010, USA. Electronic address: HSharma@childrensnational.org.
authors.forename: Hemant P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Sharma
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D014581:Urticaria / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000485:Allergens; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007073:Immunoglobulin E
keywords: Anaphylaxis; Prevention; Treatment; Urticaria