Main Article Content
Abstract
Introduction: Chronic urticaria (CU) is a persistent dermatological condition marked by recurring hives, angioedema, or both, lasting over six weeks. It affects a significant portion of the population, leading to substantial physical, emotional, and functional impairments, including sleep disturbances, fatigue, and irritability, thereby significantly reducing the quality of life.
Materials and Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted over a period of 18 months, including 100 CU patients. The study compared the Urticaria Activity Score (UAS), Total severity scores and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) at baseline and after 12 weeks of treatment. Patient compliance was assessed using the Morisky Green Levine Scale (MGLS).
Results: Out of the 100 patients, 55% were treated with second-generation antihistamines alone, 32% with a combination of first and second-generation antihistamines, and 13% with a combination of second-generation antihistamines and corticosteroids. Patients treated with the latter combination showed significant improvements: UAS reduced from 6.0 to 1.0, total severity scores from 11.0 to 3.0, and DLQI scores from 25.0 to 8.0 (all p-values < 0.001). Side effects were tolerable, with 26% of patients experiencing somnolence, nausea, dry mouth, or abdominal pain. High treatment compliance was noted in 22% of patients, medium compliance in 49%, and low compliance in 29%.
Conclusion: This present study reaffirms the effectiveness of second-generation antihistamines and corticosteroids in managing chronic urticaria (CU) symptoms, aligning with previous research. However, we found that combining first and second-generation antihistamines improves patient’s quality of life compared to second-generation antihistamines alone with minimum side effects.