Urticaria in the Allergic Child

Urticaria is common in children, and it causes frequent medical visits, emergency room accesses, and diagnostic tests. Based on the duration of the illness, urticaria is classified as acute urticaria (AU) (≤ 6 weeks), prevalent in the child, or chronic urticaria (CU) (> 6 weeks). This distinction also reflects the impact of urticaria on the patient’s life. The exact pathogenesis of urticaria is still poorly understood, but there is broad consensus in considering urticaria a mast cell-driven disease. In allergic children with food allergy, asthma, or allergic rhinitis, urticaria can occur occasionally or recurrently; it can also be a symptom of an existing clinical condition (e.g., food allergy) or arise independently. A summary of current knowledge of urticaria in allergic children and its management is presented.