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What is Urticaria? |
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Symptoms
Urticaria, familiarly known as hives, are groups of elevated welts which are either reddish or stark white in color, these appearing in various sizes which persist intermittently. Although many cases of urticaria dissipate within several weeks, some people bear it as a long-term condition. Chronic urticaria is classified as one which persists for more than a month, or one which occurs in alternate intervals of remission and recurrence. Wheals (or large ring-like blotches) usually appear and may even change shape; these itch and may also be bordered with a red sore. Individual attacks of urticaria can persist for up to thirty-six hours, and the disappearance of welts may be replaced by the development of fresh ones. Certain conditions worsen the symptoms for some people, including heat, physical exertion, and emotional or mental stress.
Causes
Urticaria is an inflammatory condition which is triggered by the release of histamine and various other chemicals into a person’s bloodstream, resulting in leaks on small blood vessels. The nature of this cause isn’t as yet fully understood, and the potential triggering factors are also very difficult to identify. Chronic urticaria is believed to be caused by an autoimmune disorder, and it may also be associated with other conditions like a thyroid illness or a blood disease. In rare cases, the underlying cause is a response to medicines, food, insect bites, infections, and parasites; but in over ninety percent of all patients, the cause of chronic urticaria is unknown, even if the patient has been tested and monitored for symptoms. It is known that external stimuli such as heat and medications do worsen chronic urticaria, but its indications disappear and recur with no identifiable trigger.
Diagnosis
Since urticaria is a triggered condition, the doctor may support an inquiry and physical exam with the patient’s self-monitoring efforts, usually done by keeping a journal for a few weeks. The patient has to take note of all his activities, any medicines or supplements which he is currently taking, his diet, and the location and duration of the outbreaks. Although determining the underlying cause for urticaria is basically a hit-and-miss effort, the doctor will aim to learn as much as possible about possible triggers to the outbreaks. Depending on the signs and the patient’s medical history, the doctor may follow up the diagnosis with a blood test, wherein the amounts and status of certain proteins and blood cells are assessed, or an allergy test, to determine if a specific stimulus triggers the outbreaks.
Treatment Info
Prescribing an effective treatment method for urticaria is difficult, particularly if the doctor cannot establish the trigger for it – otherwise, treatment necessitates that the patient avoids situations which let him come into contact with the trigger. If chronic urticaria has been established as caused by a preexisting condition, it can be eased once the latter is effectively treated. In most cases, the symptoms dissipate with OTC or prescription medications, such as oral antihistamines, oral corticosteroids, tricyclic antidepressants, and epinephrine; there are also drugs which are being tested for potency, especially cyclosporine and leukotriene receptor antagonists.
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