Background: Cholinergic urticaria is primarily seen in young adults, but little is known about its prevalence.
Objective: A prospective study was designed to investigate the frequency and severity of cholinergic urticaria in this age group.
Methods: Four hundred ninety-three high school and university students (15 to 35 years of age) were examined for cholinergic urticaria by means of a questionnaire and partly by exercise provocation tests.
Results: The overall prevalence of cholinergic whealing was 11.2%, with most of the affected persons being older than 20 years. The highest prevalence was observed in the age group of 26 to 28 years (20%). Apart from a small group of severely afflicted persons with systemic symptoms (11%), reactions were mostly mild and restricted to fleeting, pinpoint-size wheals (76%). Eighty percent of affected subjects were not troubled by their condition, and only 22% had ever sought medical attention.
Conclusion: The study shows a high prevalence of cholinergic urticaria, but the condition is mostly mild.