Anaphylaxis and urticaria

Kelli W Williams; Hemant P Sharma

doi:10.1016/j.iac.2014.09.010

Anaphylaxis and urticaria

Immunol Allergy Clin North Am. 2015 Feb;35(1):199-219. doi: 10.1016/j.iac.2014.09.010. Epub 2014 Nov 21.

Authors

Kelli W Williams¹, Hemant P Sharma²

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
² Division of Allergy and Immunology, Children's National Medical Center, Children's National Health System, 111 Michigan Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20010, USA. Electronic address: HSharma@childrensnational.org.

PMID: 25459585
DOI: 10.1016/j.iac.2014.09.010

Abstract

Anaphylaxis and urticaria are common presenting allergic complaints. Affecting up to 2% of the population, anaphylaxis is a serious, life-threatening allergic reaction. Although not life-threatening, urticaria is a rash of transient, erythematous, pruritic wheals that can be bothersome and affects up to 25% of the population. All cases of anaphylaxis warrant thorough clinical evaluation by the allergist-immunologist, although most cases of urticaria are self-limited and do not require specialist referral. This article offers an overview of our current knowledge on the epidemiology, pathogenesis, triggers, diagnosis, and treatment of anaphylaxis and urticaria.

Keywords: Anaphylaxis; Prevention; Treatment; Urticaria.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Adrenal Cortex Hormones / therapeutic use*
Allergens / immunology*
Anaphylaxis* / diagnosis
Anaphylaxis* / drug therapy
Anaphylaxis* / prevention & control
Histamine H1 Antagonists / therapeutic use
Humans
Immunoglobulin E / immunology
Immunoglobulin G / immunology
Urticaria / drug therapy*
Urticaria / prevention & control

Substances

Adrenal Cortex Hormones
Allergens
Histamine H1 Antagonists
Immunoglobulin G
Immunoglobulin E