RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Chronic urticaria and angioedema have a high incidence in the general population. Both diseases constitute a challenge in the identification of their causes, which in most of the cases are unknown. OBJECTIVE: To investigate some causes of chronic urticaria and angioedema, as well as its evolution in a group of patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 32 patients with chronic urticaria and angioedema, with poor response to the previous treatment, were included. A clinical history was made to all of them and they were asked for a complete hematic biometry, general urine exam, pharyngeal exudate, and coproparasitoscopic examinations. Some cases required other laboratory exams. RESULTS: There was a predominance of the female gender 22/32 (69%). It was observed that 75% of the patients had more than 20 years old. Evolution time has a mode between three and six months, with variations of three months to six years. We observed several types of intestinal parasites in 16 cases; each of them received specific treatment, but only five had an improvement of urticaria. Almost half of the patients presented wheals every day. We found seven cases with streptococcus beta-hemolitic group A, from which three had improvement of urticaria with the antimicrobial treatment; there were four cases of leukorrhea/vulvovaginitis, with improvement after the treatment for candidiasis identified by laboratory. CONCLUSIONS: There was a predominance of adults with infectious and parasitic disease. It was identified in most of the cases and had good clinical response to the specific treatment.
