[Urticaria and angioedema in children].

BACKGROUND: Urticaria in children is a common disorder often associated with angioedema.

METHODS: An overview on the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, investigation and treatment of urticaria and angioedema in children is presented.

RESULTS AND INTERPRETATION: Many factors, immunologic and non-immunologic, cause histamine release from tissue mast cells and thus contribute to urticaria. Acute urticaria may be associated with infections and/or allergy. There is increasing evidence that chronic urticaria is an autoimmune disorder caused by functional auto-antibodies against IgE and the Fc-receptor on mast cells. Allergy testing may be helpful in cases of suspected food or drug allergy where the history is not diagnostic. Provocation test for physical urticaria should be performed when indicated. Further diagnostic procedures are seldom useful. Non-sedative antihistamines are the drugs of choice in urticaria and generally provide substantial symptom relief until spontaneous remission occurs.