- The hives are slightly lifted, smooth, flat-topped bumps that are usually slightly reddish in color than the surrounding skin and cause severe itching.
- Hives suddenly come from an allergic reaction.
- One in five people get a nest at some point in their lives.
- The medical term for hives is urticaria.
- Angioedema is an allergic reaction, like hives, only the welts are larger and form in a deeper layer of the skin. Angioedema causes severe swelling, usually on the face, near the eyes and mouth.
- The swelling of angioedema can also occur on the inside of the throat, which is a dangerous situation because it can interfere with breathing by blocking the passage of air to the lungs.
- Hives and angioedema can occur together, but usually not.
- The most common rash for which people seek emergency medical care is hives.
- Hives and angioedema can occur at any age, in children or adults.
- Many different things can be triggers for hives and angioedema, including infections, stress, exercise, environmental changes, and insect bites and stings. No specific trigger can be identified in up to half of cases.
What are the causes of hives and angioedema?
Hives and angioedema are skin reactions to histamine and other chemicals such as bradykinin, leukotriene C4 and prostaglandin D2. These chemicals act on blood vessels and other tissues to produce the clinical symptoms of hives and angioedema. This process is often, but not always, due to an allergic reaction.
There are many causes of hives and angioedema. At least half of the time, the specific cause cannot be identified. When the cause of a medical condition is not known, it is called idiopathic. Idiopathic hives and angioedema are very common.
Some of the most common triggers of hives and angioedema include the following:
- Infections such as viral diseases, especially in children
- Allergies to food, medicines, cosmetics, soap and detergents
- Insect bites and stings
- Transfusions of blood or blood products
- Emotional and physical stress
- Physical agents such as sunlight, heat, cold, water or pressure
- Exercise
- Allergies to animals, such as pet dander
Chronic hives are hives that last longer than six weeks. This can happen to anyone, but it is most common in women aged 40-60 years. Chronic hives can last for months or even years, but this is uncommon. While anyone can get hives, some people are at greater risk.
Risk factors for hives and angioedema include the following:
- A previous case of hives or angioedema
- A previous allergic reaction
- Relatives with hives or angioedema
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE THIS
VIEW
Childhood skin problems pictures
What are symptoms and signs of hives and angioedema?
Hives is a rash of smooth, raised, pink or reddish bumps of various sizes called wheals. Hives appear suddenly. The ribs look somewhat like mosquito bites. They can cover all or part of the body and are usually very itchy.
- Hives usually break out first on the covered areas of the skin, such as the trunk and upper parts of the arms and legs.
- Wheals appear in batches. Each ailment can last from a few minutes to six hours. When the roots disappear, new jobs form. A case of beehives usually lasts a few days at most.
- Hives are usually irregular at first, but the spots can converge until the nettles cover most of the body.
- The patches can be small or large. They are usually irregular in shape. Often the spots have redness in the center with a red halo or flare at the edges.
- The itching is often very intense.
- Hives are characterized by blanching, which means that the redness disappears and the area turns pale when pressure is applied.
- Dermographism can be present. Dermographism refers to the appearance of red spots such as hives that appear after light scratching of the skin.
Angioedema is related to hives, but has a different appearance. Angioedema describes marked swelling, usually around the eyes and mouth. It can also involve the throat, tongue, hands, feet and / or genitals.
- The skin can appear normal, without hives or other rashes.
- The eyes may look close together.
- The swellings don’t usually itch, but can be painful or burning.
- The swellings may not be symmetrical (same on both sides of the body).
- Like hives, the swelling from angioedema may clear up on its own.
Other more serious allergic reactions may occur with hives or angioedema. A reaction can start with hives or angioedema and then progress quickly to more severe symptoms. The most serious allergic reactions, which can be life-threatening emergencies, are called anaphylactic reactions. The symptoms and signs of an anaphylactic reaction are the following:
- Swelling of the face, tongue or throat
- Wheezing, a grating sound when you breathe
- Breathing problems
- Difficulty swallowing
- Tightness in the throat or chest
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Dizziness or fainting
- Loss of consciousness
- Respiratory stridor, breathing back and forth that is strained down the throat
- The dizziness, faintness, and loss of consciousness are caused by dangerously low blood pressure, also known as shock.
When should someone seek medical care for hives or angioedema?
Contact a healthcare provider if you experience hives or angioedema. After hearing your symptoms, he or she may want to visit you for an office visit.
If you have any of the following symptoms, along with hives or angioedema, you may have an anaphylactic reaction. Go directly to a hospital’s emergency department.
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing
- wheezing
- Abdominal pain, vomiting or diarrhea
- General weakness
- Feeling dizzy, light-headed or weak
Other reasons to go to the emergency department include:
- Your hives or swelling will not improve after two to three days.
- You keep getting new hives after two days.
- Your symptoms are not getting better with treatment recommended by a healthcare provider.
Do not drive yourself; if no one is available to take you right away, call 911 for emergency transport. While you wait for the ambulance to arrive, wait for self-treatment.
What types of doctors treat hives and angioedema?
Primary care specialists, including pediatricians, internists, and general practices, can treat hives and angioedema. If a serious reaction occurs, an emergency specialist can treat hives and angioedema. An allergist immunologist is usually involved in the diagnosis and treatment of long-term allergies.
