Prevalence of atopic diseases in children with papular urticaria

Background: Papular urticaria is a hypersensitivity reaction characterized by chronic and recurrent papular erythema. It occurs as a result of the bites of mosquitoes, fleas, bed bugs, and other insects; and it is generally seen in children. This study examines the prevalence of atopic diseases in patients with papular urticaria. Methods: The medical records of 130 pediatric patients with the diagnosis of papular urticaria between August 2017 and August 2019, whose disease progression was followed in two ter-tiary care centers, were reviewed retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups: under 5 and above 5 years old. The prevalence of the atopic disease in children with papular urticaria was compared with those in age-matched controls without papular urticaria. Results: The study included 130 patients who were diagnosed with papular urticaria (64 males, 66 females, median age: 60 months). The prevalences of atopic disease, recurrent wheezing, and atopic dermatitis were higher in the group under 5 years old with papular urticaria than in the same-age control group (p = 0.001, 0.002, and 0.001, respectively). The prevalences of atopic disease, asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis were higher in the group above 5 years old with papular urticaria than in the same-age control group (p = 0.001, 0.001, 0.001, and 0.007, respectively). Conclusions: Many children with papular urticaria are atopic children. These patients should be assessed not only in terms of papular urticaria but also in terms of comorbid atopic diseases.