Urticaria (Hives): Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options

Urticaria (Hives): Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options

Question. Write a short note on urticaria.

Answer.

Urticaria is a vascular reaction characterized by transient, evanescent, pruritic wheals occurring on any site of the body.

It isa  type I hypersensitivity reaction of the skin to variety of exogenous or endogenous agents.

When the subcutaneous tissue involves, it is known as angiedema.

“Understanding urticaria through FAQs: Causes, symptoms, and treatments explained”

Etiology

Exogenous causes:

• Ingestants, i.e. drugs and foods
• Inhalants, i.e. pollen, plant, dust, etc.
• Injectants, i.e. penicillin, insulin, anti sera, vaccines.
• Contactants, i.e. bee sting and bug bites.

“Importance of studying urticaria for healthcare professionals: Questions explained”

Endogenous causes:

• Infections, i.e. urinary tract infection, respiratory tract infection and candida infections.
• Infestants, i.e. helminths, amoebiasis and giardiasis
• Systemic disease, i.e. systemic lupus erythmatosus and lymphomas.
• Psychogenic, i.e. emotional stress.

Management

Histamine-mediated Urticaria

1. First-line treatment:

• Loratadine 10 mg/day
• Tricyclic anti­depressant doxepine 10 mg TDS or
  ranitidine 150 mg BD

“Factors influencing success with urticaria knowledge: Q&A”

2. Second-line treatment

• Prednisolone 0.5 mg/kg 1 to 2 weeks.

3. Third-line treatment:

• Cyclosporine A
• IV immunoglobin
• Plasmapheresis.

“Common challenges in diagnosing and treating urticaria effectively: FAQs provided”

Immune Complex-mediated Urticaria

• Dapsone 75–100 mg/day
• Indomethacin 25–50 mg TDS
• Hydroxy chloroquine 200–400 mg/day.