The invisible illness that affects quality of life
It is not simply a skin problem: it is, in fact, a complex chronic condition underpinned by immunological mechanisms. Reducing delays in diagnosis
Key points
It is estimated that chronic spontaneous urticaria affects around 1 per cent of the world’s population and almost 0.8 per cent of the Italian population. It is therefore not a rare condition. Yet it remains little understood and is often underestimated. Those who have never experienced it tend to regard it as a simple skin problem. In reality, it is a complex chronic condition, driven by immunological mechanisms, which can profoundly affect quality of life.
Symptoms of the condition
It presents with hives, intense itching and, in many cases, angioedema. The symptoms persist for more than six weeks and can affect the person for months or years. Above all, they occur without warning. It is this unpredictability that makes the condition so difficult to cope with: not knowing when the lesions will appear, how long they will last, or whether it will be possible to sleep, work, go out or keep a commitment.
In my role as President of ARCO – the Association for Research and Treatment of Urticaria – I have had the opportunity to hear the stories of many people living with this condition. They rarely begin their stories by describing just the hives. Instead, they talk about sleepless nights, the struggle to get through the working day, and the embarrassment when the lesions suddenly appear on their face or hands. They tell of having to cancel a trip, the fear that an episode of angioedema might occur far from home, and the difficulty of explaining that the condition is not contagious.
Restoring balance to patients
These are different stories, but they all paint the same picture: that of a condition which intrudes on everyday life and profoundly alters its balance. Quality of life is now one of the most important indicators, even when assessing the effectiveness of treatment. Managing the condition means giving people back the chance to work, study, sleep, travel and nurture relationships without itch and uncertainty affecting every decision they make.
The scientific literature confirms what we patients have been reporting for some time: the impact of chronic spontaneous urticaria is undoubtedly significant on psychological well-being, productivity at work and participation in social life. It therefore affects not only those who suffer from it, but also their families, their workplaces and, more generally, society as a whole.
