Association of Chronic Urticaria with Helicobacter pylori Infection in Duhok City, Kurdistan Region of Iraq

Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is associated with gastric and extra-gastric manifestations such as idiopathic urticaria. Objectives: The aim of this report was to investigate the relationship between H. pylori positivity and chronic urticaria. Methods: This case control study was carried out between June 2018 and March 2019. The study was conducted at the Dermatology Consultation Unit, Azadi Teaching Hospital, Duhok, Iraq. A total of 49 patients with chronic urticaria were recruited in the study. During the study period, 95 subjects were recruited as a control. Results: The overall H. pylori positivity was 106/144 (73.6%). A significant association was found between family members number and H. pylori positivity (P = 0.04; o‎r = 1.15; CI = 1 - 1.3). The positivity was 38/49 (77.6%) positive for the patients’ group versus 70/95 (73.7%) for the control group (P = 0.7; o‎r = 1.16; CI = 0.53 - 2.57). Conclusions: The prevalence of H. pylori infections was high in the region. No association was found between H. pylori positivity and chronic urticaria. Further study is needed to explore the effect of H. pylori eradication on urticaria treatment outcome.