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The etiology of urticaria is heterogeneous and allergic responses may be involved in it. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence and distribution of sensitivity to inhaled and food allergens among patients with urticaria in Henan province (China). The levels of specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) were detected using the AllergyScreen test and a total of 524/1,091 cases (48.0%) tested positive for sIgE to at least one of the 19 allergens. The most common inhaled allergens the urticaria patients were sensitive to were D. pteronyssinus (34.5%), cockroach (12.5%) and tree pollen mix (11.1%), while the food allergens with the highest rate of allergic reactions were cashew nut (8.1%), shrimp (6.8%) and crab (6.4%). The positive rates for D. pteronyssinus, dog hair, cockroach, mold mix, tree pollen mix and shrimp in the chronic urticaria group were higher than those in the acute urticaria group (P<0.05). Furthermore, positive rates for the majority of allergens were higher in males than in females and were significantly different between age groups (P<0.05). The results of the present study provided information on the characteristics of allergen sensitization of patients with urticaria and may facilitate the prevention, diagnosis and management of urticaria in Henan province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]