Role of the Skin Prick Test in Urticaria Patients

Abstract

BackgroundUrticaria, a vascular reaction of the skin, is marked by the transient appearance of erythematous papules or plaques (wheals) of varying sizes that are blanchable and associated with severe pruritus which lasts from a few hours to days. The etiological factors for urticaria include food, drugs, bacterial foci, pollen, fungi, dust, worms, physical stimuli, stress, anxiety, insect stings, etc. Skin prick tests (SPTs) represent the cheapest and most effective method to diagnose immunoglobulin E-mediated type 1 allergic reactions such as urticaria. A history suggestive of clinical sensitivity supported by a positive test strongly implicates the allergen in the disease process. In this study, we aimed to detect the common allergens and correlate the findings of SPTs with various epidemiological characteristics of urticaria patients. MethodologyA total of 100 patients with urticaria were included in this study. After receiving written and informed consent from patients, SPTs using a battery of 45 allergens were performed. ResultsIn our study, SPT positivity was seen in 88 (88%) patients. The highest sensitization was noted toward Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (house dust mite) (30%), followed by D. farinae, Cynodon dactylon, and peanuts (each comprising 24%), and Ailanthus excelsa (20%). ConclusionsFinding the causative allergen in urticaria is often a difficult and long-drawn process, both for the physician and the patient. Our study identified an allergen in 88% of patients with urticaria, thereby showing that the SPT is a cost-effective, easy, and reliable tool for diagnosing and guiding treatments in urticaria patients.

Factors associated with sensitisation to selected aero‐allergens in children and adolescents with asthma followed up at Laquintinie Hospital Douala, Cameroon

“…The main outcome of interest was having as positive skin prick test to any of the aero‐allergens tested which referred to the formation of a papule or wheal of approximately 3–5 mm in diameter or 50% the size of the positive control after 15–20 min. A positive result means that the patient was sensitized to the allergen 16 …”

The results of a survey of Russian doctors in order to identify the compliance of the management of children with chronic urticaria with clinical recommendations

“…В настоящее время общий IgE при крапивнице не рассматривается в качестве маркера аллергии, а используется как предиктор эффективности омализумаба в случае неэффективности традиционной фармакотерапии [21]. Мы не уточняли в своем опросе цель определения общего IgE, однако 207 из 319 врачей (64,9 %) указали его в числе первых тестов при обследовании детей с ХК.…”

Assessment of Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria from Medical Microbiology Background: Review Article

“…Allergy sensitivity can be evaluated with SPTs, and immunotherapy plans can be developed based on the results (22) . The SPT is an effective method for diagnosing urticaria since many patients feel relief after avoiding the allergen for which a positive result is obtained (23) .…”

“…To begin, both a negative control (buffer saline in glycerol) and a positive control phosphate, 10 mg/mL) are utilized. After that, allergens are applied to the forearm of each subject (23) .…”