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Objectives: To describe the most frequent dermatological conditions observed in COVID-19 patients and to determine whether their presence could be used to establish an early diagnosis or to predict the progression of the infection. Methods: There was a review in PubMed/MEDLINE and EMBASE of all the articles that had been published between January 1st and November 1st, 2020, with the search terms focused on "SARS-CoV-2", "COVID-19" and "Skin diseases". Results: Eighty three studies met the inclusion criteria. Skin lesions have been reported in 0.2 % of the patients. The most frequently reported dermatoses were: maculopapular/morbilliform rashes, urticaria and angioedema, chilblain-like acral pattern, and vesicular lesions. Among researchers, there are differences of opinion about a possible diagnostic or prognostic value of the skin diseases that are associated to the infection. Conclusions: It is advisable to consider the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients who call the doctor for skin lesions, urticaria, or angioedema, with or without other symptoms of the infection, especially if there is a previous history of recent exposure to other infected subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Alergia de Mexico is the property of Coleg. Mexicano de Inmunologia Clinica y Alergia A.C.; Soc. Lat. de Alergia, Asma e Inmunologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Alergia de Mexico is the property of Coleg. Mexicano de Inmunologia Clinica y Alergia A.C.; Soc. Lat. de Alergia, Asma e Inmunologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Few studies in tropical developing countries have utilized molecular diagnosis to characterize allergen-specifi c responses to aeroallergens. Objective: To investigate the in vivo and in vitro responses of IgE antibodies to inhalant allergens in allergic patients with rhinitis and/or asthma. Methods: A prospective study in which patients with allergic rhinitis and/or asthma were included. Skin prick tests with 16 inhalant extracts of allergens were carried out and total and specific IgE levels for allergens and their molecular components in the serum were determined. Results: In a total of 189 patients, 73.5% showed high levels of total IgE in the serum. The prick tests were positive for the following allergens: Dust mite extracts; more than 60 %, cat; 29.6 %, dog; 23.4 %, and Periplaneta Americana; 21.6 %. Specific IgE for Dermatophagoides farinae and Pteronyssinus was present in 66.6 % of the patients; for Blomia tropicalis; in 45.0 %, for Ascaris lumbricoides; in 24.7 %, for cat; in 17.3 %, for parrot feathers; in 14.8 %, and for Penicillium notatum; in 12.3 %. IgE antibodies to mite allergens of group 1 and 2 were present in 59.0 % and 70.1 % of the sera; 39.1 % contained IgE to rBlo t5, 30.4 %contained rBla g4, 19.9 % contained rFel d1, 11.8 % contained rArt v3, 11.2 % contained Der p10, 9.9 % contained rBla g2, 9.3 % contained rPer a7, 9.3 % contained nFel d2, and 8.7 % contained rCan f1. Conclusions: This study confirms that mites are the main sensitizing agents in patients with respiratory allergic diseases in a tropical environment. There was a good correlation between the results of the skin tests and the results of the in vitro tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Alergia de Mexico is the property of Coleg. Mexicano de Inmunologia Clinica y Alergia A.C.; Soc. Lat. de Alergia, Asma e Inmunologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Alergia de Mexico is the property of Coleg. Mexicano de Inmunologia Clinica y Alergia A.C.; Soc. Lat. de Alergia, Asma e Inmunologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Current information on the particular features of patients suffering chronic spontaneous urticaria refractory to treatment is limited. Objective: To investigate demographic and clinical characteristics in patients with refractory chronic spontaneous urticaria. Material and methods: A retrospective analysis of the clinical and demographic information of patients consulting Allergy services from two hospitals in Caracas, Venezuela, who presented spontaneous urticaria lasting more than 6 weeks and did not respond to, at least, one course of treatment with antihistamines. Results: Refractory chronic spontaneous urticaria was frequent in Hispanic female patients aged 20 to 59 years, with moderate symptoms, individual lesions lasting less than three hours, and wheal diameters between 1 and 3 cm. Angioedema, alone or associated to urticaria was present in 14% of the patients. Most frequent comorbidities were asthma, rhinitis and rhinosinusitis, thyroid diseases and hypertension. Conclusion: Refractory chronic spontaneous urticaria constitutes a highly prevalent subgroup of chronic urticaria which represents an important therapeutic challenge. This study did not demonstrate differential characteristics distinguishing refractory chronic spontaneous urticaria from chronic spontaneous urticaria patients who respond to the treatment with antihistamines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are four types of histamine receptors. Allergic symptoms, especially those in rhinoconjunctivitis and urticaria, are mainly caused by activation of histamine receptor 1 (H1). Consequently, oral H1-antihistamines form and integral part of the treatment of these diseases. Antihistamines are inverse agonists that stabilize the non-active configuration of the histamine receptor. First generation H1-antihistamines cause a variety of adverse effects via several mechanisms: sedation (accumulation in the central nervous system), dry mouth, urinary retention, weight gain (low selectivity: stimulation of serotonin/muscarinic/alpha-adrenergic receptors) and drug interactions (substrate of CYP450-3A4). Generally second generation H1-antihistamines have a better safety profile. New guidelines on allergic rhinitis and urticaria recommend second generation H1-antihistamines as first line drugs, with -if necessary- four-times updosing to obtain control in urticaria. The enhanced efficacy of quadruple doses in urticaria, while maintaining a good safety profile, has been shown for bilastine, desloratadine and levocetirizine (rupatadine). For ebastine and fexofenadine only the safety of quadruple doses has been shown till now. Extreme precaution should be taken with astemizol and terfenadine that never should be up-dosed, as high serum concentrations can cause potentially fatal ventricular tachycardia. First generation antihistamines are not recommended as first line treatment and updosing is not safe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anaphyaxis is a situation threatening life and may occur at any age. Unfortunately, despite of the existance of up-dated guidelines for its treatment, many patients are wrongly diagnosed and treated and, some times, deaths are reported. This paper summarized the most common difficulties and mistakes that we have seen repeatedly in patients consulting to our services due to have suffered episodes of anaphylaxis in order to give orientation about implementation of plans of treatment of these reactions. The recommendations included in this document are derived from mentioned guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is little information on urticaria occurring in children, especially in limited resource countries. Objective: To determine the demographic and clinical features of urticaria in children living in a developing country. Patients and method: A prospective study was done in children from two allergy outpatient clinics were prospectively studied. Clinical data was obtained from the medical history and physical examination. Laboratory evaluations and immediate-type skin tests with food and aeroallergen extracts were done in selected cases. Urticaria subtypes were defined according to current EAACI/GA(2)LEN/WAO guidelines. Results: One hundred and twenty-three subjects were studied, 71 with acute urticaria and 52 with chronic urticaria. In patients with chronic urticaria, but not in those with acute urticaria, there was a significant predominance of girls. Triggers of urticaria were more common in acute than in chronic urticaria. Insects, foods, and drugs were the most common inducers of symptoms in acute urticaria, while urticaria induced by skin pressure was referred more often in chronic urticaria. In patients with acute or chronic urticaria there was a higher involvement of the head, upper and lower limbs. In patients with chronic urticaria, generalized urticaria, angioedema, and wheals on pressure sites were more frequent than in patients with acute urticaria. Spontaneous, papular, drug-induced, and dermographic urticaria were the most common subtypes in both groups of children. Conclusions: In children attending allergy services, acute urticaria was more frequent than the chronic type. Symptom triggers were different in acute than in chronic urticaria. Most common subtypes were spontaneous, papular, drug-induced, and dermographic urticaria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]