Chronic urticaria

Abstract

Core Messages: Chronic urticaria is heterogeneous in its course, clinical picture and underlying causes. Autoreactivity, infection and food intolerance are the most common causes. Treatment should be aimed at curing the condition whenever possible. This requires the identification of the underlying cause. Non-sedating H1-antihistamines are the first-line symptomatic treatment. The goal is to completely prevent urticaria symptoms from reoccurring, which requires updosing of antihistamines or the use of additional or other therapies in many patients. © 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.