Retrospective Evaluation of Acute Urticaria Patients Presenting to Pediatric Emergency Department

Abstract

Aim: Evaluation of the frequency of emergency room visits due to acute urticaria is important for the control and management of the disease. In this context, the aim of this study was to investigate the seasonal and yearly changes in emergency room visits due to acute urticaria in children.

Material and Method: In our retrospective and descriptive study, all patients aged 0-18 years who presented to the pediatric emergency department of a tertiary hospital in Istanbul between January 2017 and December 2022 with acute urticaria were included in the study. Age at diagnosis, time of presentation and gender of the patients were evaluated within the scope of the study.

Results: Between January 2017 and December 2022, 2.7% (n=28,847) of the patients visited to the Pediatric Emergency Department due to acute urticaria. 53.6% (n=15,465) of the patients were male and 46.4% (n=13,382) were female. The median age of the patients was 5 years (0-18 years).  Between 2017 and 2022, the rates of visits to pediatric emergency departments for acute urticaria were 3.0%, 3.4%, 2.9%, 2.2%, 2.2%, 2.1%, 2.2% for each year, respectively. In general, there was an increase in visits in June, July and August, and a decrease in visits in January and February.

Conclusion: In a six-year period, the frequency of visits to the pediatric emergency department due to acute urticaria generally decreased over the years. While there was an increase in visits in June, July and August, there was a decrease in visits in January and February.