Title: Skin Prick Test in Chronic Urticaria in a Tertiary Care Centre in South India
Authors: Sreejith. A.P, Anuja Elizabeth George, Rony Mathew
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v8i2.159
Abstract
Background: Urticaria is a cutaneous disease with short-lived itchy wheals, angio-oedema or both. Recurrence of lesions for 6 weeks or more is considered as chronic. Chronic urticaria is estimated to have a life time prevalence of 1.8%. The peak incidence of chronic spontaneous urticaria is in the fourth to fifth decade and seriously compromises the quality of life of patients due to debilitating and uncomfortable symptoms that may last for years. Skin prick test (SPT) is a reliable, convenient and less expensive method to detect IgE mediated allergy and helps to identify the allergens to which patients with chronic urticaria are sensitised.
Aims and Objectives: To determine the occurrence of positive skin prick test in chronic urticaria and to identify the allergens implicated in them.
Methods: Seventy seven patients above 12 years of age, attending the Department of Dermatology and Venereology for chronic urticaria were included as study subjects. They were given SPT with 52 purified extracts of allergens commonly seen in this region.
Results: SPT was found to be positive in 53 patients (68.8%). Highest sensitization was seen to insect allergens (45.5%), followed by food (20.8%), house dust mite (18%), pollen (13%), fungi (5.2%), house dust (2.6%) and dander (2.6%).
Conclusion: This study showed that 68.8% of patients with chronic urticaria were sensitised to different types of allergens found locally in this region. Skin prick test can be helpful in determining probable causative allergens and thereby aid in managing this chronic condition.
Keywords: Chronic urticaria, skin prick test, allergens.
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