Urticaria is the medical term used for hives. Hives are a type of skin rash that are red, itchy and bumpy. They occur in reaction to some triggers which can include chemical, drugs, irritants or anything. They appear suddenly and usually disappears quickly.
Urticaria is a very common condition. About 20 percent of individuals experience hives at some point of their lifetime.
Signs and symptoms of hives appear suddenly and disappears within hours and consists of
Skin rashes: in appearance they are red or skin colored, swollen bumps with clear edges. They can resemble bug bites but they differ from bug bites as
Angioedema is the condition different from hives which can be seen in almost half of the patients of hives. It is characterized by swelling which is beneath the skin instead of surface like swelling around the eyes, lips or whole of the face. A sensation of fullness or discomfort in those area is felt. It usually last longer than hives. Angioedema of throat, tongue or lungs can be life threatening condition as it disrupts normal breathing.
Hives occur in response to triggers that activates the immune system cells of the skin. These cells known as mast cells upon activation releases a chemical histamine which is responsible for all the signs and symptoms
These triggers can be allergic reactions, medications, sunlight exposure, insect stings or any offending agents. Many a times it is difficult to find out the trigger.
There are three different types of hives based on for how long one is suffering from the hives
The diagnosis of hives is usually based in their symptoms and a physical examination. It is important to separate symptoms of angioedema from hives. Testing is not required in the most of the cases but may be recommended in people whose hives don’t resolve within six weeks.
Medical history: your doctor will ask you various questions about your symptoms, any associated food intake, any allergies, family history or any drug or chemical exposure. To identify the trigger, active participation of both the physician and the patient is required. Depending upon the history your doctor may recommend some tests.
Testing: Skin testing can be performed if food or drug allergies are expected. It is usually performed in people who are suffering from acute hives as chronic hives are rarely caused by allergies. Blood test can be recommended in individuals if systemic diseases are suspected or specific allergen is to be tested.
Skin biopsy: A skin biopsy where small sample of skin is taken for further testing may be recommended in those where an uncommon cause is suspected. This is done in people who are suffering from chronic hives along with the other symptoms.
A combination of methods can be used to manage hives that include prevention and treatment as
Avoiding triggers: The best management option for hives is to prevent it from occurring. It can be done by identifying triggers and avoiding them.
Antihistamines: these are the medications used to relieve the symptoms caused by histamine. They can prevent the symptoms from occurring if taken prior. There are two type of antihistamines which differ in their side effect profile and efficacy. These are older and newer antihistamines. These are available as over the counter drugs. A physician can recommend the most suitable antihistamine for you.
Oral steroids: they are used when even the high doses of antihistamines are not able to control the symptoms. They cannot be used for long terms due to their side effects. Once the symptoms are relieved the steroid dose is gradually lowered and then stopped.
Other medications are also available which is given by specialist depending upon the patient condition and these specialists are either dermatologist or allergist.