The second episode of the podcast series on chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), produced in collaboration with The Itch Podcast, explores the complexities of diagnosing CSU. The episode covers the roles of allergists and dermatologists and the steps involved in ruling out other conditions that could be causing hives.
You can learn more about the podcast and hosts on ItchPodcast.com. The podcast can be downloaded on all major platforms for listening anytime, anywhere:
We thank Novartis for sponsoring this episode.
What to Know About Diagnosing Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria
Join Dr. Payel Gupta and Kortney as they explain how doctors diagnose CSU. Dr. Gupta walks us through how a CSU diagnosis involves ruling out other conditions through a detailed patient history and physical exams. She also shares what other conditions would be considered when seeing hives, such as Mast Cell Disease or autoimmune disorders.
Dr. Gupta also explains the tests that may be used in the process of a CSU diagnosis and highlights the issues with over-testing for food allergies. Additionally, they explore the link between autoimmune diseases and CSU.
Here’s what you’ll take away from this episode on diagnosing chronic spontaneous urticaria:
A better understanding of how doctors identify CSU by ruling out other causes of hives. Learn why a detailed medical history is crucial and how it guides the doctor’s decisions on necessary tests. Plus learn why doctors want to avoid over-testing and unnecessary dietary restrictions is important.
Podcast Timestamps for YouTube Video:
00:45 – Differentiating hives and swelling as a result of an allergic reaction or CSU
05:15 – Which specialist to choose for CSU diagnosis
07:08 – Consulting a dermatologist for a skin biopsy
08:50 – Diagnosing CSU: patient history and complete review of systems
11:35 – Identifying true hives: blanchable rash
14:10 – Summary of blanchable rashes
15:00 – Vasculitis: another disease that looks like hives
17:15 – Other conditions with hives as a symptom: Mast Cell Disease, autoimmune conditions
19:28 – Autoimmune disorders linked to CSU
21:20 – Tests for CSU diagnosis, including physical tests
22:46 – Food allergy testing
25:00 – False positives in food allergy testing
26:00 – Understanding a food allergy panel
27:47 – Environmental allergy testing
29:00 – Other blood tests
30:44 – Ensuring general healthcare maintenance
32:00 – Importance of not over-testing
33:00 – The timeframe for a CSU diagnosis
34:00 – Seeing a specialist who is familiar with urticaria
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