[Chronic urticaria: clinical characteristics of a group of patients of Veracruz, Mexico].

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.