Yousuf Abd Mallick, Sidra Akhlaq Hussain.
Frequency of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients of chronic spontaneous urticaria.
J Pak Assoc Derma Jan ;29(2):145-50.

Objective To calculate the frequency of Helicobacter pylori infection by stool antigen assays in patients of chronic spontaneous urticaria.   Methodology The study was cross-sectional & conducted in Dermatology outpatient department of Saifee Hospital Trust, Karachi, Pakistan. The duration of study was six months i.e. from July 1 st 2017 to December 31 st 2017. Clinically diagnosed, 130 adult cases of chronic spontaneous urticaria of either gender, age 18 years and above, having urticaria for 6 months or more were included via non-probability consecutive sampling technique. Stool for H pylori antigen assays were performed and results were recorded.   Results  In our study, the mean age was 33.4 ± 13.0 years. Mean duration of symptoms was 1.5 years. Out of 130 patients, 98 (75.4%) were female and 32 (24.6%) were male with a female to male ratio of 3:1. In our study, those who have urticaria for longer duration (more than 1 year) were more likely to have H pylori infection as compared to those who have shorter duration (P=<0.009). Overall, stool for H pylori antigen test was positive in 39 (30%) patients with urticaria (P=<0.001).   Conclusion The number of cases with positive stool for H pylori antigen among chronic spontaneous urticaria patients is significantly higher and it is one of the main aetiopathogenic factors for this disease. Cases of urticaria should be routinely screened for H pylori infection and eradication therapy will be useful for control of disease.  

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