PAEDIATRIC MASTOCYTOSIS

Key words: Mastocytosis, Child, Overview

Mastocytosis is a quite rare but not exceptional condition that affects also children. In most of the cases it affects only the skin, has a favourable prognosis and resolves spontaneously. It is characterized by an anomalous increase in mastocytes, which may diffusely affect all the skin (diffuse cutaneous mastocytosis) or some specific parts of the body presenting with the symptoms of urticaria pigmentosa or solitary or multiple mastocytoma. Its symptoms are mostly cutaneous, however, the degranulation of mastocytes with subsequent release of mediators, especially of histamine, may also determine systemic symptoms, among which the most typical one is, besides itching, flushing, namely the temporary reddening of the face and of the upper quadrants of the chest.