Background Chronic spontaneous urticaria is well‐described in adults, but less so in children. The aim of this study is to describe the demographics, clinical characteristics, comorbidities, and outcomes of children with chronic, spontaneous urticaria. Methods This retrospective study followed children up to 18 years old, diagnosed with chronic spontaneous urticaria, between the years 2002‐2018, and treated in a tertiary referral allergy and clinical immunology center. Data including demographics, clinical characteristics, comorbidities, treatments, and outcomes were extracted from electronic medical records. Results Records of 380 children coded to have chronic urticaria were reviewed, of which 250 (65.8%) fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for chronic spontaneous urticaria. There were 136 females (54.4%). Mean age at diagnosis was 11.4 years, and 122 (48%) were adolescents. The average duration of chronic spontaneous urticaria was 12.25 ± 15.2 months. The urticaria in 208 children )83.2%) resolved within 24 months. Eighty‐seven patients (34.8%) had at least one atopic disease. Atopic comorbidities included atopic dermatitis in 17.2%, allergic rhinitis in 16%, asthma in 13.2%, and food allergy in 3.2%. Eighteen patients (7.2%) had a concomitant autoimmune disease. Nine (3.6%) had thyroid disease. Conclusions and clinical relevance Chronic spontaneous urticaria in children is a self‐limited disease with favorable prognosis. Atopic diseases are more prevalent in children with chronic spontaneous urticaria than in the general pediatric population, increasing the possibility of a special subgroup of TH2‐related chronic urticaria in children.

To compare the efficacy of topical 5-FU as monotherapy to combined therapy of topical 5-FU and Er:YAG (2940 nm) laser in the treatment of non-segmental vitiligo (NSV). Methods: This is a prospective randomized comparative study. Thirty patients diagnosed with NSV were recruited from the dermatology outpatient clinics of the Medical Research Centre of Excellence, the National Research Centre and the National Institute of Laser Enhanced Sciences. Our study group was divided into two subgroups, Group 1 was subjected to ablative Er:YAG and 5-FU cream and Group 2 applied topical 5-FU cream. Three treatment sessions were repeated every 4 to 6 weeks and patients were followed up to 9 months. Repigmentation was assessed by digital photography and subsequent computer based image analysis. Results: Repigmentation of Group 1 patients ranged from 0 to 70% (mean 12±7%) whilst in Group 2 this ranged from 0 to 5% (mean 1.4±0.8%). In Group 1 repigmentation was mild in 22/30 (73.3%) and moderate to severe in 3/30 (10%) starting after 3 months and persisted or increased during the period of follow up to 9 months. Groups 1 and 2 were subdivided into A and B, vitiligo involving non-resistant and resistant areas respectively. Group 1A showed more repigmentation (mean 13.8±8.5%) than Group 1B (mean 9.8±4.5%) and Group 2A showed more repigmentation (mean 1.5±1%) than Group 2B (mean 1.3±0.5%). Conclusion: The combination of Er:YAG with 5-FU is safe and effective in treating and improving outcome in vitiligo especially of non-resistant areas. Computer based image analysis of vitiliginous lesions and assessing post-therapy response is an easy, quick, and reliable method.

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