Publication:

Clinicoepidemiological study of chronic urticaria in a government tertiary care centre in South India

Background According to the consensus statement 2017, urticaria is a common skin condition with a lifetime prevalence of 22% and point prevalence of 1%. This study aims to study the clinico epidemiological presentation of chronic urticaria in patients attending a govt. tertiary care center and to assess absolute eosinophil count.

Methods This observational study was conducted in patients with chronic urticaria presenting to the outpatient clinic of Dermatology department. Patients details including demographics, clinical manifestations, investigations, associated comorbidities, and therapeutic were collected.

Results Chronic urticaria is commonly present in females-appears commonly in 4th decade but patients present to tertiary care center only in 5th decade-duration was less than 1 year in males, but it was equally between 1-2 and 2-4 years in females. Ear, nose, throat and dental involvement are negligible and common comorbidities are diabetes mellitus, hypertension and hypothyroidism. 42% of patients present with more than normal absolute eosinophil count.

Conclusions Chronic urticaria was common in females with 5th decade being the common age of presentation to the tertiary care center and 4th decade being the common age of disease onset. Paediatric population is less affected. Common comorbidities like diabetes mellitus, hypertension and hypothyroidism are to be ruled out. Raised absolute eosinophil count has to be looked for.