Solar urticaria in an infant: a case report

BACKGROUND: Urticaria remains a relevant issue in modern medicine, including pediatric practice. The prevalence of chronic urticaria among children under 15 years of age is approximately 1.1%. A rare form of chronic inducible urticaria is solar urticaria, which accounts for about 0.5% of chronic urticaria cases. Solar urticaria most often manifests with typical symptoms such as erythema and wheals. However, severe cases have been described, accompanied by headache, dizziness, nausea, bronchospasm, hypertension, tachycardia, and pronounced allergic reactions up to anaphylactic shock—particularly when large areas of the skin are exposed to the provoking light spectrum. Despite the distinctive clinical manifestations, diagnosing solar urticaria poses a challenge, especially in infants and young children. An additional difficulty in pediatric patients is the lack of standardized provocation diagnostic tests, which use is limited by ethical and legal considerations. This clinical case of solar urticaria in an infant underscores the importance of early diagnosis for timely management of this rare form of chronic urticaria.

CASE DESCRIPTION: This article presents a clinical case of solar urticaria in an infant. From the first weeks of life, the mother noted facial redness after walks in sunny weather. At the age of 1.5–2 months, erythema was accompanied by wheals and itching on the face, prompting consultation with a pediatrician and subsequently an allergist-immunologist. The therapeutic approach included laboratory testing, differential diagnosis, and treatment measures. After diagnosing solar urticaria, implementing appropriate elimination measures, and providing adequate symptomatic therapy, a stable remission was achieved.

CONCLUSION: This rare clinical case of solar urticaria in a 2-month-old infant confirms the need for timely differential diagnosis and referral to a specialist for verification of the diagnosis and initiation of appropriate treatment measures. Adherence to therapy by the child’s parents plays a crucial role in disease management.