Urticaria and bacterial infections.

The association between urticaria and infectious diseases has been discussed for >100 years. However, a causal relationship with underlying or precipitating infection is difficult to establish. The purpose of this work was to perform a systematic analysis of the published cases of urticaria associated with bacterial infections. We give an umbrella breakdown of up-to-date systematic reviews and other important publications on the complex association of urticaria and bacterial infections. We did a Medline search, for English language articles published until January 2014, using the key words "urticaria" and "bacteria/bacterial disease"; a second analysis was performed in groups of bacteria and using each germ name as a key word. Many bacterial infections have been associated with urticaria manifestation, such as Helicobacter pylori, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Mycoplasma pneumonia, Salmonella, Brucella, Mycobacterium leprae, Borrelia, Chlamydia pneumonia, and Yersinia enterocolitica. In some cases the skin manifestations, described as urticaria, could be caused by the presence of the microorganism in the skin, or for the action of their toxins, or to the complement activation mediated by circulating immune complexes. Although only a weak association with urticaria of unclear pathogenesis exists, clinicians should consider these bacterial agents in the workup of the patients with urticaria. The eradication of the infection could, in fact, lead to the resolution of urticaria. Prospective studies and well-structured research are obviously needed to better clarify the real role of bacteria in the pathogenesis of urticaria and their relative prevalence.

Role of stressful life events in induction or exacerbation of psoriasis and chronic urticaria.

BACKGROUND: The possibility of a causal influence of emotional stress, especially of stressful life events, on the course of various skin diseases has long been postulated. Previous reports addressing its influence on skin psoriasis and chronic urticaria have been mainly anecdotal. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the stressful events of life within 1 year preceding onset or exacerbation of skin disease in patients of psoriasis vulgaris and chronic urticaria. METHOD: Fifty consecutive clinically diagnosed psoriasis patients and 50 consecutive clinically diagnosed chronic urticaria patients were examined clinically and administered Gurmeet Singh's presumptive stressful life events scale. RESULTS: Stressful life events were seen in 26% of the patients in the psoriasis vulgaris group and 16% of the patients in the chronic urticaria group within 1 year preceding onset or exacerbation of skin disease. In the psoriasis vulgaris group, the most common stressful life event seen was financial loss or problems (8%), followed by death of close family member (4%), sexual problems (4%), family conflict (2%), major personal illness or injury (2%), and transfer or change in working conditions (2%), failure in examinations (2%), family member unemployed (2%), illness of family member (2%), getting married or engaged (2%), miscellaneous (2%). In the chronic urticaria group, the most common stressful life event seen was death of a close family member (6%), followed by family conflict (2%), financial loss or problems (2%), sexual problems (2%), illness of family member (2%), getting married or engaged (2%), trouble at work with colleagues, superiors, or subordinates (2%), going on a pleasure trip (2%) and extramarital relations (2%). CONCLUSION: Psychological stress plays a significant role in triggering or exacerbating dermatological diseases. Our study indicates the role of relaxation therapies and stress management programs in chronic diseases such as psoriasis and chronic urticaria. Psychological interventions can help individuals to reinterpret events and develop strategies to cope with stressful events, thus decreasing morbidity due to these diseases.

Photosensitivity in children: an approach to diagnosis and management.

Photosensitivity disorders in children include a wide array of conditions, many of which are unique to this age group. Prompt diagnosis of these disorders becomes difficult at times because of the overlapping clinical pictures. Genodermatoses and metabolic disorders may have associated systemic involvement, which may lead to these children presenting to pediatricians who may overlook the photosensitivity. A dermatologist's consultation is essential in such cases for specific instructions and counseling of parents regarding photoprotection in these children. This intervention may improve the quality of life by reducing the morbidity and chances of early mortality. This review includes a comprehensive discussion of the distinguishing clinical features of childhood photodermatoses along with general guidelines regarding their investigation and treatment.

Urticária- angioedema crônico: caracterização sociodemográfica, clinica e etiológica - Estudo em doentes atendidos no HC - FMB - UNESP no período de 1990 a 1998 / Urticaria - chronic angioedema: sociodemographic, clinical and etiological characterization - Study in patients attended at HC - FMB - UNESP from 1990 to 1998

Urticaria cronica-angioedema e uma enfermidade complexa, multicausal, de facil diagnostico clinico, representando cerca de 1,1% das consultas ambulatorial dermatologicas do H.C. da F.M.B., no periodo de 1990 a 1998. Os objetivos deste estudo visaram caracterizar a populacao atendida quanto aos aspectos sociodemograficos, clinicos e etiologicos, assim como o estudo de fatores agravantes e a evolucao da enfermidade nos doentes atendidos no referido periodo. Para os objetivos propostos, foram avaliados 125 doentes atraves de um protocolo previamente elaborado e constava de: identificacao, anamnese dirigida, exame dermatologico, fisico e subsidiario. Na avaliacao dos resultados, observou-se predominancia no sexo feminino, no grupo etario de 20 a 50 anos, principalmente na faixa dos 30 a 40 anos, com idade media de 35 anos para o sexo feminino e 32 para o masculino. Houve predominancia da cor branca e em moradores da zona urbana. Nao houve ocupacao prevelente e cerca de 60% eram casados. Com relacao aos aspectos clinicos, o tempo medio de duracao da enfermidade foi de 45,26 meses, as lesoes tiveram duracao media de 5,6 horas e o surto 6,5 horas. Nao houve horario preferencial para o aparecimento dos surtos e o periodo noturno foi o mais citado para piorar o quadro ja estabelecido. Nao houve fatores associados na maioria dos casos e o estresse foi o fator agravante mais citado. Na metade dos doentes houve associacao com angioedema e o quadro clinico ocorria diariamente, seguido de reaparecimento a intervalos irregulares. A renite foi o antecedente alergico pessoal mais citado e a bronquite a antecedente alergico familiar. A maioria dos doentes nao apresentavam urticaria na 1ª consulta ambulatorial e em 37% havia outra enfermidade associada. Entre outras doencas associadas, as alteracoes no aparelho genito-urinario, digestivo e respiratorio foram os mais citados, seguidos das doencas endocrinas, nutricionais ou metabolicas, transtornos circulatorios e mentais. Ao c...

Skin manifestations and immunological parameters in childhood food allergy.

According to Hansen's contact rule, the digestive system should be considered as the main shock organ, yet in food allergy, this is not the case. Very often specific food triggers clinical manifestations not involving the digestive system; that is, reactions are manifested either in the respiratory system, as asthma or rhinitis, or in the skin. In these cases the BALT (broncho-alveolar lymphoid tissue) and GALT (gastrointestinal lymphoid tissue) units play a basic role in the sensitizations. The purpose of this study was to determine the most frequent skin manifestations of food allergy among children, and the most frequently involved foods. We also thought it interesting to evaluate the diagnostic reliability of the different standard immunological parameters utilized by the study team in food allergy. All patients underwent intracutaneous tests with 12 groups of the most frequent food allergens, as well as serum IgE, antigen-specific IgE against foods, and antigen-specific histamine release tests. Antigen-specific IgG4 determination was performed in some cases. The results obtained confirmed previous studies, the most common manifestations being: angioedema (48%), followed by urticaria (31%) and atopic dermatitis (21%). Regarding the frequency of sensitization to different food allergens, in mono- or polisensitization, fish and egg stand out in our environment. Certain food allergens are more frequently responsible for specific skin manifestations. Thus, for fish sensitization, the most frequent skin manifestation is atopic dermatitis (50%); for egg sensitization, angioedema is the most frequent skin manifestation (50%); and for milk, urticaria (50%). Finally, and in agreement with previous works regarding the diagnostic reliability of in vitro techniques, we found that the histamine release test offered the highest percentage of diagnostic reliability. Only for sensitization to milk proteins did antigen-specific IgE demonstrate higher reliability. Once again, we stress that our main problem is the lower reliability of skin tests against food allergens than against inhalant allergens. We emphasize the importance of food as a major factor in the etiopathogenesis of atopic dermatitis, as well as the need to complement the study, when possible, by means of the in vitro techniques described.