Acute urticaria in infants

Urticaria is a disease that can occur not only in adults but also in infants. There are many types of urticaria that occur in infants, including acute urticaria. The onset of this type of urticaria is relatively rapid. Some people may still not understand this disease. This disease has certain symptoms and treatments. So what is acute urticaria in infants?

Pediatric urticaria, commonly known as wheals, is a common allergic skin disease characterized by dilation of small blood vessels in the skin and mucous membranes and increased permeability. It is mainly manifested by erythema and localized edema reactions of varying sizes on the skin, often accompanied by itching. The basic lesion is the temporary dilation of capillaries in the skin and mucous membranes and a sudden increase in permeability. Most of the diseases are caused by allergic reactions, and the acute cases usually have a good prognosis.

There are many causes of urticaria. Bacteria, viruses, parasites can all become allergens. Pollen, dust, chemicals, and even some foods can become allergens. Chronic urticaria refers to wheals that occur at least twice a week and last ≥ 6 weeks. A small number of patients with chronic urticaria may also experience intermittent attacks.

Usually, hives do not require further testing. For acute cases, a blood test can be performed to determine whether the illness is related to infection or allergy. For chronic cases with severe illness, long course or poor response to conventional doses of antihistamines, examinations such as blood routine, stool ova, liver and kidney function, immunoglobulin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, complement and various autoantibodies may be considered. If necessary, allergen screening, food diary, autologous serum skin test (ASST) and Helicobacter pylori infection identification can be carried out to exclude and determine the role of related factors in the onset of the disease.

Allergen skin testing is one of the commonly used methods to find allergens. The skin allergen test is to observe the allergic reactions to various foods by making multiple pricks on the subject's upper arm with allergen skin test solution. Positive results require comprehensive clinical analysis to finally determine whether it is an allergen.

Acute urticaria in children is relatively easy to treat. With anti-allergic treatment, the rash can disappear quickly in most children. The treatment time of chronic urticaria needs to be extended. A small number of patients have repeated attacks and cannot be cured for a long time, which is called chronic intractable urticaria. This type of urticaria is often difficult to treat because the allergen cannot be found.