Several causes of urticaria have been identified table 1. Cold urticaria genetic and rare diseases information. The condition is considered chronic hives if the welts appear for more than six weeks and recur frequently over months or years. Dermatographia is a condition also known as skin writing. Intercurrent infections such as a cold, influenza or a sore throat may act as a trigger. Dermatographia is a condition in which lightly scratching your skin causes raised, red lines where youve scratched. Evaluation and treatment paul schaefer, md, phd, university of toledo college of medicine and life sciences, toledo, ohio u. Diagnosis and treatment of urticaria in primary care. Those itchy, red welts can be brought on by more than just pet dander and pollen. Parasitoses are the cause of urticaria, especially in children. While there isnt a lot of evidence that certain diets can.
Chronic spontaneous urticaria and other chronic forms of urticaria do not only cause a decrease in quality of life, but also affect performance at work and school and, as. Respiratory infections such as sinusitis, tonsillitis, dental abscesses, urinary tract infections, hepatitis, infectious mononucleosis, and parasites may cause urticaria. Hives are rarely due to a serious underlying disease. Histamine causes many of the symptoms associated with allergies. Urticaria caused by respiratory allergens usually occurs immediately after contact. This rash is usually apparent within 25 minutes after exposure and can last for 12 hours. Urticaria has diverse clinical presentations and causes. Evaluation and treatment paul schaefer, md, phd, university of toledo college of medicine, toledo, ohio. When people who have dermatographia lightly scratch their skin, the scratches redden into a raised wheal similar to hives. Urticaria is a disease characterized by erythematous, edematous, itchy and transient urticarial plaques, and covering the skin and mucous. Solar urticaria may occur within a few minutes after exposure to the sun.
Diagnosis and treatment of urticaria in primary care ncbi. Hives are a common allergic reaction involving the skin. Urticaria is caused by immunoglobulin e and nonimmunoglobulin emediated release of histamine and other inflammatory. Pdf diagnosis and treatment of urticaria in primary care. Hives usually cause itching, but may also burn or sting. The majority of patients with chronic urticaria will have evidence of dermographism. Inflammation of the blood vessels, or vasculitis, can also cause hives.
Signs and symptoms generally include reddish, itchy welts andor swelling when skin is exposed to the cold i. In the common ordinary form of urticaria and angioedema, it is unusual for an external cause to be identified. Cold urticaria is a condition that affects the skin. Pdf urticaria is a common skin condition that, though rarely fatal, can seriously impair a patients quality of life. Urticaria and angioedema royal college of physicians.
Whilst a clear cause of hives in not obvious in many cases, causes may include. Cholinergic urticaria is due to an increase in body temperature because of sweating, exercise, hot showers andor anxiety. Cholinergic urticaria is a type of skin rash commonly called hives that occurs in some people when their body gets too warm and sweats. Widespread hives are an allergic reaction to food, medicine, viral infection, insect bite or environmental exposures. Chronic urticaria is virtually never caused by an allergy, which is sensitization and a hypersensitivity. Aquagenic urticaria is a rare form of urticaria, a type of hives that causes a rash to appear after you touch water. This patient booklet is to help you develop an understanding of chronic or recurring urticaria and angioedema. Urticaria is a medical condition commonly known as hives. The welts vary in size and appear and fade repeatedly as the reaction runs its course. Chronic idiopathic urticaria doesnt have a known cause, but it might be worth trying to adjust your diet to improve your symptoms. Pdf urticaria, also known as hives among people, is a very common disease characterized by erythematous, edematous, itchy, and transient. They can appear anywhere on the body, including the face, lips, tongue, throat, or ears.
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