Chapters authored
Approach to Chronic Urticaria from Primary Care and Emergency Services: Case Reports in Spain
Urticaria is a common process. The true incidence is not known; it is believed that between 15 and 25% of the population may suffer at some point in his life. Acute urticaria has a prevalence of 20% and the chronic form 0.5–1%. Urticaria is a disease that affects the skin and mucosa, characterized by the presence of hives. It occurs as a localized intracutaneous edema circled and an area of redness (erythema), which is typically itchy. There are histaminergic foods and drugs that worsen the prognosis of the disease. Foods which rely on aging to taste nice are always presumed to be high in histamine (chocolate, yogurt, seafood, strawberries, etc.) and drugs like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. For diagnosis we have several tools (urticarial activity score, chronic urticaria quality-of-life questionnaire (CU-Q2oL), urticaria control test, etc., among which the most useful, simple, and cost-effective is the clinic history). The treatment of choice are antihistamines, from a daily tablet up to four tablets as maximum dose. Corticosteroids are excluded to exacerbations and must be prescribed in short guideline (maximum 10 days) without progressive decrease. Severe forms of urticaria resistant to treatment with antihistamines are treated with biological agents like omalizumab.
Part of the book: Topics in Primary Care Medicine