Hives

Description urticaria

Крапивница – маленькие, itchy, red swelling on the skin. Swelling occur singly or in groups. Hives tend to fade after a few hours, but again, you may receive. Most cases of urticaria lasts for several days, but in some cases the symptoms can be observed for several weeks or longer.

The causes of hives

Hives often, when the body releases a chemical called histamine. Histamine is released during allergic reactions. Many people, However, suffer hives, without being exposed to allergens.

Although the cause of the urticaria is not known, in some cases, hives can cause various factors:

• Products, common:
  • Eggs;
  • Clams;
  • Peanuts;
  • Chocolate;
  • Fish;
  • Tomatoes;
  • Fresh berries;
  • Milk;
• Medicines;
• Reaction to allergy shots (desensitization);
• Infection;
• Insect bites;
• Latex;
• Pressure;
• Cold or heat;
• Sunlight;
• Thyroid disease (gipotireoz, hyperthyroidism);
• Pollen;
• Stress;
• Vasculitis (inflammation of blood vessels).

Risk factors for urticaria

Risk factors increase the probability of occurrence of hives. Tell your doctor, if you have the following:

• The response to exposure to allergens (substances, which cause allergic reactions);
• The response to exposure to allergens, that triggered hives in the past.

Symptoms of hives

Symptoms of hives can vary from mild to severe:

• Itch;
• Redness;
• Edema;
• Excessive swelling of the eyelids, mouth or genitals;
• Feeling the heat;
• Burning;
• Затруднение дыхания или глотания – если у вас возникли эти симптомы, immediately seek medical advice.

Diagnosis of urticaria

The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history and a physical exam. Maybe, you have to see a doctor, who specializes in skin diseases (dermatologist) or allergy (allergist). There will be the following tests:

• Инъекционная кожная проба – небольшое количество аллергена вводится в кожу с помощью иглы, to see the presence of an allergic reaction;
• Биопсия кожи – удаляется небольшая часть кожи;
• Рентген – тест, which uses X-rays, to take a picture of structures inside the body, especially bones;
• Blood tests.

Treatment urticaria

Лучший способ лечения крапивницы – найти и избежать причины ее появления.

If the cause can not be found, there are medications, allowing to reduce the symptoms and cure hives:

• H1-blocking drugs, such as:
  • Dimedrol;
  • Gidroksizin;
  • Fexofenadine;
  • Loratadine;
  • Acrivastine;
  • Cetirizine;
  • Doxepin;
  • Levocetirizine;
• H2 blocking drugs, such as:
  • Cimetidine;
  • Ranitidine;
  • Famotidin;
• Leukotriene Antagonists, Taki how montelukast;
• Oral steroids (eg, prednisolone) for hives, resistant to other therapies;
• Anti-inflammatory drugs;
• Immunosuppressive;
• Therapy with ultraviolet light;
• Injections of epinephrine (adrenaline) for cases, when swelling occurs in the airways.

Prevention urticaria

Лучший способ предотвратить крапивницу – избежать контакта с аллергеном, which causes it.