Lecture
on
Urticaria
Prof. Dr. Md. Abu Yousuf Bhuiyan
Professor of Dermatology
Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College
• Definition:-
• It is a vascular reaction of the skin
characterized by the appearance of wheal,
white or red evanescent plague, generally
surrounded by a red halo or flare &
associated with severe itching, stinging or
pricking sensation.
• Classification: (a) Clinically- acute (within 6
weeks disappear)
Chronic- persist (>6 weeks persist)
(b) On the basis of pathogenesis:
1. Immunological- IgE dependent, type-1
hypersensitivity, complement mediate form
serum sickness.
2. Non immunological- a) Direct – opiate,
polymyxin, tubocuraine, radio contrast dye.
b) Indirect- Aspirin, NSAID, Tartazine,
Benzocaine
c) Mast cell degranulation
3. Idiopathic- More than 50% are idiopathic &
chronic
Etiology:
• Drug- penicillin, aspirin, salicylate, NSAID,
opiate, x-ray contrast, angiotensin converting
enzyme inhibitor.
• Food & food additives- Yeast, citric acid, egg,
fish albumin.
• Infections- Tooth, Tonsil, Sinus, Gall bladder,
Kidney, Prostate & Bladder.
• Others- Emotional stress, menthol, neoplasm,
inhalants, virus, parasite, alcohol.
• Physical stimuli- Produce 7-17% urticarial
reaction, dermographic, cold, heat, cholinergic,
aquagenic, solar, vibratory, exercise induced
urticaria.
Pathogenesis:
• Inflammatory mediators like histamin,
serotonine, slow reacting substance,
prostaglandin, protease, bradykinine &
various other kinine is responsible.
• Investigation: 1. Complete blood count,
2. eosionophilia, 3. stool for R/E, 4. urine
for R/E, 5. serum IgE, 6. x-ray chest, 7. x-
ray PNS, 8. ultrasonography, 9. thyroid
function test, 10. thyroid antibody, 11. liver
function test, 12. blood sugar, 13. hepatitis
B and C, 14. anti nuclear antibody, 15.
patch test, 16. provocative test, 17.
Histopathology.
• Differential Diagnosis:
1. Urticarial vasculitis
2. bullous pemphigoid
3. E.M.
4. granuloma anulare
5. sarcoidosis
6. T.cell lymphoma.
• Treatment modality: Treatment according to
cause
• Restriction of diet & avoidance of etiological
cause.
• Antihistamin of 1st generation eg.
diphenhydramine or hydroxyzine.
• Antihistamin+short course of prednisolone.
• Antihistamin+tricyclic anti depressant.
• Antihistamin H1+H2 blocker like cimitidine,
ranitidine.
• Mast cell stabilizer – ketotifen.
• Lekotriene receptor antagonist – montelukast.
• Anti pruritic lotion: Calamine lotion may eliminate
itching.
• Biologic e.g. omalizumab may effective.
• Calcium channel antagonist, mast cell stabilizer,
anti malarial, dapsone, azathropine,
methotrexate.
• Systemic corticosteroid .5 to 1mg/kg/day.
• Plasmapheresis, I/V immunoglobulin or
cyclosperine therapy.
Treatment of Acute Urticaria
• Assurance of the patient
• If Respiratory distress hospitalization
• Antibiotic like erythromycin 250/500mg 6 hourly or
inj. ceftriaxone BD
• Inj, Dexamethason (Roxadex) 6 hourly or 8 hourly
for 4-5 days than reduce according to response
• Antihistamine (Alatrol 10mg at night for 3 weeks)
• Mast cell Stabilizer (Tofen ,alarid) BD for 1 month.
• Antiulcerant like famotidin
Treatment of Chronic Urticaria
• Antibiotic like Azithromycin 500mg for 5 days
• Cetirizine 10mg at night ,Loratadin,fexofenadin,Bilastin
at morning.
• Mast Cell Stabilizer BD
• Montelukast at night
• Antihelminthic
• Ivermectin (Ivera 12mg stat and after 7 days)
• Motivation of the patient
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