ICE CUBE TEST IN CHILDREN WITH COLD URTICARIA

The ice cube test performed in 24 children (6 cold urticaria, 6 health y, 6 allergic and 6 chronic urticaria) showed that a 3 and 5-minute ic e cube test was the appropriate time for the diagnosis of cold urticar ia without false positive results. If the test was prolonged to 10 and 20 minutes, 17% and 33% respectively showed false positive results in chronic urticaria other than cold urticaria patients. After four week s of cyproheptadine therapy, the ice cube test showed only 17% positiv e al 3 minutes and 33% at 5 minutes. When the ice cube test was perfor med for 10 and 20 minutes, 67% showed positive results. In conclusion, the ice cube test should be performed for 3 to 5 minutes to diagnose cold urticaria in children. The time should be increased to 10 or 20 m inutes if the test shows negative results at 3 to 5 minutes after anti histamine therapy.