Urticaria multiforme

Background

Urticaria multiforme is a rare clinical variant of urticaria that occurs specifically in children.

Case description

A boy aged 11 months was presented at the Emergency Department with acute onset of itching urticarial skin weals and acral oedema. This picture is consistent with the diagnosis of urticaria multiforme.

Conclusion

The diagnosis of urticaria multiforme can be made on the basis of the clinical picture. Treatment is symptomatic and in most cases this condition resolves spontaneously within two weeks. It is often confused with erythema exsudativum multiforme, urticarial vasculitis, a serum sickness-like reaction or acute haemorrhagic oedema of infancy (AHOI syndrome). As each of these clinical presentations involves specific treatment and prognosis, it is important to be able to distinguish between them.

Conflict of interest and financial support: none declared.