Hives or Urticaria

Hives also known as urticaria, are common allergic reactions that usually cause itching, may also burn or sting. They can appear anywhere on the body, including the face, lips, tongue, throat, or ears. Hives vary in size, and may join together to form larger areas known as plaques. They can last for hours, or up to several days before fading. There is a variation in shapes, quantity and even color from light pink to dark red. Foods and drugs are the common causes of hives. Some patients get hives occasionally only when they ingest a specific food or food additives. Other get hives as a chronic problem which can go-on for years. Most studies of chronic hives suggest a low percent of food allergy causes usually because diet revision attempts were inadequate to reveal the hidden food causes. There is a variation in shapes, quantity and even color from light pink to dark red.

Causes
The factors that are known to cause hives include environmental factors, drugs, infections and infestations, food allergens, synthetic products, emotional factors, systemic and general disease, physical factors. There are some diseases in which hives are a factor for instance, some cancers and hyperthyroidism Hives can also be triggered by physical factors such as light, heat or cold, pressure, vibration, exercise, fever or stroking the skin. And last but not least, there is idiopathic hives, a medical term that means there is no discernible cause. Chronic hives (hives that last longer than six weeks) are idiopathic 95 percent of the time.

Types
There are several different types of hives or urtricaria that are either a result of the body's adverse reaction to certain allergens, or for unknown reasons. The various types are:

• Acute urticaria and/or angiodema
• Chronic urticaria and/or angioedema
• Physical urticaria.
• Dermatographism

Diagnosis
The doctor needs to ask a lot many questions in an attempt to find the possible cause. Since there are no specific tests for hives or the associated swelling, the testing will depend on your medical history and a thorough examination by doctor or the dermatologist.

Treatment
The best treatment for hives and associated swelling is to identify and remove the basic cause. Antihistamines and oral corticosteroids are usually prescribed by dermatologist. These medications may also be taken on a regular schedule to help prevent hives and associated swelling from forming in the first place. In chronic hives, an injection of epinephrine or a steroid medication may be required.

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