[Prevalence of urticaria in Cartagena, Colombia].

BACKGROUND

In Colombia, there have been studies on the prevalence of allergic diseases such as asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis. Prevalence studies of urticaria in Colombia are scarce.

OBJECTIVE

Our objective objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of urticaria in Cartagena (Colombia) in order to contribute to national epidemiological estimates of disease.

METHODS

A multicenter cross-sectional study in the city of Cartagena was conducted and 547 patients aged 1-58 years treated at the Allergy specialist consultation in care centers selected for this study between April and July 2015 were included, through non-probabilistic sampling.

RESULTS

The prevalence of urticaria in the care centers selected of city of Cartagena (Colombia) was 7.1 % (4 % children and adults 3.1 %). 3.4 % prevalence of acute urticaria and 3.6 % of chronic urticaria was estimated.

CONCLUSION

46.1 % reported having a poor quality of life associated with urticaria.