Ordinary urticaria: a descriptive study

ABSTRACT

Clinical and histopathological evaluation of acute and chronic ordinary urticaria. Eighty-two patients having ordinary urticaria, 57 [69.5%] acute and 25 [30.5%] chronic, 24 [29.27%] males and 58 [70.73%] females, had been recorded from the out patient clinic-department of dermatoIog and venerolog-Baghdad Teaching Hospital-Baghdad. Data abstracted from the patients by a questionnaire and clinical assessment. All patients were sent for laboratory investigations including, blood examination, general urine and stool examination. Antinuclear factor was carried out for those patients with chronic urticaria. The mean age of the patients was 24 +/- 4.6 years. Females were more affected than males. Regarding atopy, there was no much difference from control. Night exacerbation was noticed in ordinary urticaria 43 [52.4%]. Emotional tension 32 [39%], food 25 [30.5%], heat 25 [30.5%]. drugs 16 [19.5%] and infections 14 [17%] were the most provoking factors. Gastrointestinal disturbances were the most common associated symptoms and noticed in 23.2% of patients. These symptoms were more in acute urticaria [29.8%] when compared with chronic urticaria [8%]. Parasitic infestations were noticed in chronic urticaria [20.4%], while eosinophilia was more evident in acute urticaria [16.1%]. Positive ANF, leukocytosis, high ESR, anemia and pyuria were observed in some patients. Tuberculin testing was less positive in patients with urticaria. Acute and chronic ordinary urticaria constitute a common type of urticaria affect predominantly females. Good questionnaire and full investigations are essential for the detection of their provoking factors