Chronic urticaria: An approach towards etiology and diagnosis. Part I

Chronic urticaria (cu) is one of the most frustrating and challenging dermatosis for patients and physicians both. apparently easy to diagnose,cu is still considered as a difficult to manage disease. subtypes of cu include chronic idiopathic (spontaneous) urticaria,inducible urticaria,physical urticaria,autoimmune chronic urticaria and urticarial vasculitis. physical urticaria may coexist with chronic idiopathic (spontaneous) urticaria. evaluation of a patient with cu should involve consideration of various possible causes,although in most cases the cause is not identifiable. investigation of cu should be guided by a thorough history and physical examination.