title: Clinical and etiologic evaluation of the children with chronic urticaria.
abstract: Chronic urticaria (CU) is a skin disorder defined as daily or almost daily exhibition of pruritic and transient wheals that last for 6 weeks. CU is divided into two subtypes: chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) and chronic inducible urticaria (CIndU).
  
  
  
  To evaluate the clinical features, possible causes, associated findings, and laboratory results of different subtypes of CU in children according to a new classification.
  
  
  
  In this study, we evaluated the clinical features, laboratory investigations, and provocation tests of children with different subtypes of CU according to a new classification.
  
  
  
  Two hundred and twenty-two children (59.9% girls) were enrolled in the study. Of the study patients, 59.9% and 40.1% were diagnosed as having CSU and CIndU, respectively. Antithyroid antibody levels were positive in 7.1% of the patients with CSU, 32.8% of the children had positive 14C-urea breath test results, and 6.5% of the patients had positive stool examination results for parasites. Autologous serum skin test results were positive in 53.5% of the patients with CSU. Of the patients with CIndU, 77.5% had symptomatic dermographism, 16.8% had cold urticaria, 2.2% had cholinergic urticaria, 2.2% had solar urticaria, and 1.1% had aquagenic urticaria.
  
  
  
  Children with CSU represent the majority of patients with CU, and more than a half of these patients might have autoimmune urticaria. Symptomatic dermographism was the most common type of CIndU.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Kirikkale University, Kirikkale, Turkey.
authors.forename: Dilek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Azkur
authors.forename: Ersoy
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Civelek
authors.forename: Müge
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toyran
authors.forename: Emine Dibek
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Mısırlıoğlu
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Erkoçoğlu
authors.forename: Ayşenur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kaya
authors.forename: Emine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vezir
authors.forename: Tayfur
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Giniş
authors.forename: Ayşegül
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akan
authors.forename: Can Naci
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Kocabaş
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D015415:Biomarkers; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012882:Skin Tests; D014581:Urticaria / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D015415:Biomarkers; D007073:Immunoglobulin E