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Urticaria
Means Hives
They're red. They're welts. They itch. And
they can grow in size from that of a mosquito bite to a saucer or
larger. They tend to occur in batches
and last anywhere from a few minutes to several days. Hives can
be, but aren't always, an allergic response to something you touched,
inhaled or swallowed. Sometimes they are associated with swelling
under the skin, called angioedema, which burns more than itches
and most often involves the eyelids, lips, tongue, hands and feet.
Hives are caused by the release of one of the
body's own chemicals, histamine, into the skin. Histamine causes
blood vessels to dilate, leaking fluid. This leads to swelling and
redness, along with intense itching.
Some common causes include:
- Reactions to medications such as aspirin,
sulfa and penicillin
- Animal dander
- Cold temperatures
- Foods
Sometimes it's very difficult to find out what's
causing your hives. If it can be identified, the best course of
treatment is avoidance of that substance.
It's important to seek emergency care if you
have hives and feel light-headed or have difficulty breathing or
if hives continue to appear for more than a couple of days.
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