A Comparative Study of Urticaria and Angioedema Symptoms, Etiology and Diagnosis Based on Persian and Conventional Medicine

Background and purpose: Urticaria is one of the most widespread skin inflammatory diseases that reduce the quality of life, especially in chronic cases. Considering the very close compatibility of urticaria and angioedema with Shara and Mashara in Persian Medicine, this paper aimed at comparing their signs, symptoms, and etiology and suggests a more comprehensive diagnostic perspective and paves the way for further researches. Materials and methods: This narrative review was conducted using the main manuscripts of Persian medicine and international medical databases using relevant keywords such as urticaria, angioedema, Shara, Mashara, etc. Data were then compared, interpreted, and analyzed. Results: The symptoms of urticaria and angioedema such as sudden nocturnal pruritus and the causes of increased heat in the body were found to be similar to those of Shara and Mashara. The cascade of inflammatory factors, dilation, and increased permeability of blood vessels can be comparable to sudden movement of the vapor of warm blood to narrowed pores of the skin. Conclusion: Persian and conventional medicine share similar perspectives on urticaria and angioedema. The food digestion process and function of the body's major organs in production of healthy blood are too important. Therefore, integrating Persian and conventional medicine could be effective in diagnosis and treatment of these inflammatory diseases.