[Urticaria: not usually an allergic reaction].

Two boys and a girl, aged 8, 7 and 4 years old respectively, attended the outpatient clinic suffering from urticaria. The oldest boy was diagnosed with chronic urticaria and angio-oedema, whereas the youngest boy was diagnosed with chronic urticaria only. The little girl had a history of constitutional eczema, and presented with a common cold complicated by acute urticaria. All three patients responded well to treatment with antihistamines. Urticaria is usually not caused by an allergy. The major cause of acute urticaria in childhood is viral infection. Further investigation is not usually necessary. In the majority of cases, chronic urticaria is idiopathic, and maintenance treatment with antihistamines is indicated.