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.