1. What does urticaria
look like?
Hives are pink swellings called "wheals" that occur in
groups on any part of the skin. Each individual wheal lasts less
than a day before fading away, leaving no trace. When hives are
forming they usually are very itchy and also may burn or sting.
Hives are very common with 10 - 20 percent of the population having
at least one episode in their lifetime.
2. What is acute urticaria?
The term acute urticaria is used for hives lasting less than six
weeks. With this type of hives, the cause or causes can usually
be identified and eliminated. The most common causes of hives are
foods, drugs or infections. Insect bites and internal disease may
also be responsible. Other causes can be physical stimuli, including
pressure, cold, heat and sunlight.
Foods
The most common foods that cause hives are nuts, chocolate, fish,
tomatoes, eggs, fresh berries and milk. Fresh foods cause hives
more often than cooked foods. Food additives and preservatives may
also be responsible. Hives may appear within minutes or up to two
hours after eating, depending on where the food is absorbed in the
digestive tract.
Drugs
Almost any prescription or over-the-counter medication can cause
hives. Some of those drugs include antibiotics (especially penicillin
and sulfa drugs), pain medications (especially aspirin), sedatives,
tranquilizers and diuretics. Antacids, vitamins, eye and ear drops,
laxatives, vaginal douches, or any other non-prescription item can
be a potential cause of hives.
Infections
Many infections can cause hives. Viral upper respiratory tract infections
are a common cause in children. Sinus, tooth or bladder infections
can be a hidden cause.
3. What is chronic urticaria?
Episodes of hives lasting more than six weeks are called chronic
urticaria. The cause of this type of hives is usually much more
difficult to identify than that of acute urticaria. In studies of
patients with chronic urticaria, the cause was identified in only
a small percentage of patients.
4. What are physical
urticarias?
Certain people can develop hives from sunlight, cold, pressure,
vibration or exercise. Hives due to sunlight are called solar urticaria.
This is a rare disorder in which hives come up within minutes of
sun exposure on exposed areas and fade within one to two hours.
Reaction to the cold is more common. Hives appear when the skin
is warmed after exposure to cold. A simple test for this type of
hives can be done by applying an ice cube to the skin surface.
The most common of the physical urticarias is called
dermatographism. Hives form from firmly stroking or scratching the
skin. It affects about 5 percent of the population. Most people
with this condition are otherwise healthy. This condition can also
occur along with other forms of urticaria. It may persist for months
or even years.
5. What is the
treatment for urticaria?
The best treatment for hives is to find the cause and then eliminate
it. While investigating the cause of hives, antihistamines are usually
prescribed by your dermatologist to provide relief from itching.
Antihistamines work best if taken on a regular schedule to prevent
hives from forming. In severe cases of hives, oral cortisone or
an injection of a cortisone preparation may bring dramatic relief.
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